Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising lactate metal salt

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to: a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer containing, as an active ingredient, a metal lactate salt, which can be dissociated, in cancer cells, into lactate capable of effectively inhibiting actions such as proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells by disturbing the metabolic processes of cancer cells; a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting cancer metastasis; a food composition for alleviating cancer; and a method for treating cancer and a method for inhibiting cancer matastasis, both methods comprising a step of administering the lactate metal salt. The metal lactate salts of the present invention as disclosed inhibit the growth of cancer cells and induce the death of cancer cells by disturbing the metabolic processes in the main energy production pathways of cancer, and inhibit the expression of factors inducing resistance against radiation exposure, while having no side effects. Therefore, the lactate metal salt can be widely utilized in a more effective anti-cancer therapy.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of pUS application Ser. No.15/629,445 filed Jun. 21, 2017, which is a continuation ofPCT/KR2015/0131091 filed Dec. 4, 2015, which claims priority from KoreanPatent Application Nos. 10-2015-0142828 filed Oct. 13, 2015; and10-2014-0192158 filed Dec. 29, 2014, the contents of each of which areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a pharmaceutical composition fortreating cancer including metal lactate salts, and more particularly, toa pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer including, as activeingredients, metal lactate salts capable of dissociating lactate, whichcan disturb metabolism of cancer cells and thus effectively inhibitactivities such as growth, invasion, and metastasis of the cancer cells,within the cancer cells, a pharmaceutical composition for inhibitingcancer metastasis, and a food composition for improving cancer.

BACKGROUND

According to the data released in 2011, a total of 218,017 cancer caseswere reported to have occurred in South Korea in 2011. The crudeincidence rates were 439.2 for male and 431.0 for female per 100,000people. The order of incidence of cancer was stomach, colorectal, lung,liver, and breast cancer. The top 5 cancers describe above have morethan 50% incidence rate of all cancers. The most common cancers for malewere stomach, colorectal, lung, and liver cancer in sequence, and forfemale were breast, colorectal, stomach, and lung cancer except thyroidcancer. If South Korean people live to the average life expectancy, thechance of getting cancer will be 36.9%. It is assumed that 2 out of 5males (38.1%) and 1 out of 3 females (33.8%) are likely to developcancer. The age-standardized rate (ASR) in South Korea adjusted by worldstandard population was 295.1 per 100,000 people, which is lower thanthe figure for the U.S. (318.0) or Australia (323.0) but higher than theOECD average (271.5). According to the data from National StatisticalOffice, the number of deaths caused by cancer was 75,334 people in SouthKorea in 2013, accounting for 28.3% of total deaths, and it is expectedthat the death rate from cancer will increase by 8.8% over the 2 to 3years. Therefore, in order to treat cancer with a high incidence anddeath rate, various methods of treatment are being attempted around theworld. So far, surgery and anticancer drug therapy or radiation therapyare the best choices to treat the early and advanced stage canceraggressively.

For surgical treatment of cancer, the class and type of tumor should beidentified through the diagnosis of tumor. In most cases, a biopsy isperformed for diagnosis. Surgery is the radical treatment that all oflymph nodes surrounding the tumor and primary lesions are removed, usingthe radical exeresis. The radical exeresis is preferentially conductedwith the goal of complete recovery. The death rate due to exeresis hasdecreased to 1 to 3%, and the 5-year survival rate of patients hasincreased by more than 50%. However, it is well known that patients whounderwent surgery have a risk of relapse. Further, the surgery may haveacute side effects such as bleeding, intestinal obstruction, vascularinjury, ureteral injury, rectal rupture, pneumonia, and pulmonaryembolism caused by complications, and, thus, a reoperation may beneeded. Chemotherapy is the treatment of disease using drugs, i.e.,anticancer drugs, applied to cancer cells spread in the entire body.However, most of the anticancer drugs are prepared to suppress rapidgrowth of cancer cells and thus will cause damage to cancer cells andpossibly also to normal cells to a lesser degree. Meanwhile normalcells, such as blood cells, epithelial cells of gastrointestinal tractincluding the oral cavity, hair cells, and reproductive cells that arerapidly divided or proliferated, are greatly affected, and, result inside effects such as anemia, hair loss, and genetopathy. In severecases, the anticancer drugs may lower the function of the marrow and maycause infection within 2 to 3 weeks of treatment, leading to death fromsepsis. Radiotherapy refers to the treatment of inducing apoptosis ofcancer tissues with high energy radiation. This treatment is one of themethods that allows a patient to keep a normal life, but may causedamage to the normal skin in a local area as a side effect of highenergy radiation. In cases of metastatic cancer, the cancer stem cellsmay be resistant to radiation and relapse or metastasis may occur.

In order to overcome these disadvantages, studies for developing atreatment method of combining radiotherapy with chemotherapy or genetherapy are actively conducted. For example, Korean Patent Laid-openPublication No. 2002-0042606 discloses a radiosensitizer compositioncontaining an N-acetylphytosphingosine derivative and adimethylphytosphingosine derivative, Korean Patent Laid-open PublicationNo. 2003-0055878 discloses a radiosensitizer containing ceramides andderivatives thereof and dimethylsphingosine which is a sphingosinekinase inhibitor, and Korean Patent No. 620751 discloses a compositionfor radiosensitization, containing paeonol and a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof as active ingredients. However, in cases ofcombining radiotherapy with the above-described anticancer drugs toimprove therapeutic effects of the radiotherapy, toxicity of theanticancer drugs, such as inflammation at the radiation therapy site,gastric disorder, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, may occur in additionto the side effects of the radiotherapy. Thus, the use of anticancerdrugs is limited. Furthermore, it is known that due to theimmunosuppressive environment, tumor cannot be completely exterminatedand the risk of relapse is high.

Accordingly, the development of a novel treatment that is easilyapplicable to treat cancer and capable of effectively treating cancerwith less influence on normal tissues is urgently needed. According toresults from recent studies, it is known that a cancer cell has its owncharacteristics and can continuously grow while maintaining thecharacteristics. Firstly, a cancer cell has a characteristic ofcontinuously maintaining a differentiation signal. For example, celldifferentiation and survival by maintaining a β-catenin signaling iswell known. A normal cell inhibits overproduction of the β-cateninsignaling through protein ubiquitination, whereas a cancer cell avoidsβ-catenin ubiquitination and continuously maintains a growth signal.Secondly, a cancer cell has a system for producing an excessive amountof lactic acid through glycolysis using glucose to produce energy withhigh efficiency. Thirdly, a cancer cell has a characteristic of avoidingapoptosis. By activating poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), an apoptosisescaping molecule, a cancer cell avoids apoptosis with a resistance tovarious gene-targeted treatments and continuously maintains tumorformation. Fourthly, cancer is excellent in invasion or metastasis andalso capable of creating its own environment by angiogenesis. If cancergrows continuously, necrosis occurs around tumor and the oxygen supplyis reduced causing the increase of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1αthat is known to involve the above phenomenon directly or indirectly.

Targeting the above-described characteristics of cancer, variousanticancer drugs have been developed based on regulation of cell growthand metastasis suppression. However, tyrosine kinase inhibitorsmediating growth signals have shown unsatisfactory treatment results andresistance to drugs. In the development of anticancer drugs, it is stilldifficult to find a method to effectively suppress growth of cancercells regulated by a network of complicated signaling pathways.

Under these circumstances, the inventors of the present disclosurestudied and tried to develop a method to effectively suppress growth ofcancer cells and treating cancer and as a result, completed the presentdisclosure by finding out that metal lactate salts capable ofdissociating lactate, which can disturb metabolism of cancer cells andthus effectively inhibit activities such as growth, invasion, andmetastasis of the cancer cells within the cancer cells, can be used asactive ingredients of an anticancer drug.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide apharmaceutical composition for treating cancer including metal lactatesalts as active ingredients.

Further, the present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide apharmaceutical composition for suppressing metastasis of cancerincluding metal lactate salts as active ingredients.

Furthermore, the present disclosure has been made in an effort toprovide a food composition for improving cancer including metal lactatesalts as active ingredients.

Furthermore, the present disclosure has been made in an effort toprovide a method for treating cancer comprising administrating metallactate salts.

Furthermore, the present disclosure has been made in an effort toprovide a method for suppressing metastasis of cancer comprisingadministrating metal lactate salts.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the metallactate salts of the present disclosure have no side effects and disturbmetabolism in a main energy production pathway to suppress the growth ofcancer cells, induce apoptosis and also suppress expression of a factorthat induces resistance to radiation, and, thus, can be widely used formore effective anticancer treatment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram and a table comparing the structure andbinding energy among calcium lactate, sodium lactate and potassiumlactate, each having a molecular structure similar to that of calciumlactate.

FIG. 2 provides fluorescence microscope images showing the result ofcomparing the calcium levels in cancer cells depending on whether or nottreated with calcium lactate (CaLa).

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the result of comparing the lactate levels incancer cells depending on whether or not treated with calcium lactate(CaLa).

FIG. 4 provides graphs showing the changes in intracellular andextracellular pH of cancer cells treated with calcium lactate, and theleft graph shows the change in extracellular pH of the cancer cells andthe right graph shows the change in intracellular pH of the cancercells.

The upper part of FIG. 5 provides electrophoretic images showing theresult of comparing mRNA expression levels of β-catenin in humancolorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116, HT-29, and DLD-1) treated withcalcium lactate at various concentrations, and the lower part of FIG. 5provides Western blotting images showing the result of comparing proteinexpression levels of β-catenin in human colorectal cancer cell lines(HCT-116, HT-29, and DLD-1) treated with calcium lactate at variousconcentrations.

FIG. 6 provides Western blotting images showing the result of comparingprotein expression levels of the total β-catenin and activated β-cateninin human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) treated withcalcium lactate at various concentrations.

FIG. 7 is a real-time PCR and a western blot shows the effect of calciumlactate in the cancer cell line under hypoxic conditions. The graphshows mRNA expression levels of glucose transporter (GLUT)-1 andhexokinase (HK)2 which involved in the early stage of glycolysis andwestern blotting images showing protein expression levels of HK2.

FIG. 8 provides Western blotting images showing the effects of calciumlactate on protein expression levels of PARP and cleaved PARP expressedin human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231).

FIG. 9 provides a Western blotting image and a graph showing the resultof comparing protein expression levels of PARP in colorectal cancer celllines treated with calcium lactate, 5-indane sulfornamide (IS) as aninhibitor of carbonic anhydrase, or cinnamic acid (CA) as an inhibitorof MCT-4, which is a pathway of lactate outflow, individually or incombination.

FIG. 10 provides Western blotting images showing the result of comparingprotein expression levels of PARP in human melanoma cell lines (SKMEL-02and SKMEL-28) treated with calcium lactate at various concentrations.

FIG. 11a provides fluorescence microscope images showing the changes inprotein expression levels of LDH-B in cancer cell lines depending on thetreatment with calcium lactate.

FIG. 11b provides fluorescence microscope images showing thefluorescence absorbance of cancer cell line depending on the treatmentwith calcium lactate

FIG. 11c provides quantitative analysis graph showing fluorescencedevelopment levels depending on the protein expression levels of LDH-B.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing changes of pyruvate concentrations in cancercells depending on the treatment with calcium lactate.

FIG. 13a provides fluorescence microscope images showing changes inprotein expression levels of PDH in cancer cell lines depending on thetreatment with calcium lactate. FIG. 13b provides a quantitativeanalysis graph showing fluorescence development levels of PDH dependingon the treatment with calcium lactate

FIG. 14a provides a quantitative analysis graphs showing the changes inconcentration of α-KG in cancer cell lines with calcium lactatetreatment under normal medium.

FIG. 14b provides a quantitative analysis graph showing the changes inconcentration of α-KG in cancer cell lines with calcium lactatetreatment under glutamine-free medium.

FIG. 15 (upper part) provides Western blotting images showing theexpression levels of HIF-1α protein in human colorectal cancer celllines (HCT-116 and HT-29) cultured for 24 hours with or without thetreatment with 2.5 mM calcium lactate under normoxia or hypoxiacondition, and the lower part of FIG. 15 provides Western blottingimages showing the expression levels of HIF-1α protein in humancolorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29) cultured for 24 hourswith 0.5 mM, 1.5 mM and 2.5 mM calcium lactate treatment under hypoxiacondition.

FIG. 16a provides quantitative analysis graphs showing the result ofmeasuring the mRNA expression levels of VEGF in human colorectal cancercell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29) cultured for 24 hours with or without the2.5 mM calcium lactate under normoxia or hypoxia condition. FIG. 16bprovides quantitative analysis graphs showing the result of measuringthe protein expression levels of VEGF in human colorectal cancer celllines (HCT-116 and HT-29) cultured for 24 hours with or without the 2.5mM calcium lactate under normoxia or hypoxia condition.

FIG. 17 is fluorescence images showing the tube formation levels inhuman vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) treated with calcium lactate atvarious concentrations. The HUVEC was cultured using the medium ofcultured cancer cell lines with different concentrations of calciumlactate.

FIG. 18 provides photos showing the result confirming cell migration,which shows metastatic capacity of a colorectal cancer cell line,depending on whether or not treated with calcium lactate.

FIG. 19 provides photos showing the result confirming cell migration,which shows metastatic capacity of a breast cancer cell line, dependingon whether or not treated with calcium lactate.

FIG. 20 provides photos showing the result confirming cell migration,which shows metastatic capacity of a melanoma cell line, depending onwhether or not treated with calcium lactate.

FIG. 21a provides photos showing the result confirming cell migrationwhich shows metastatic capacity of a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7)depending on whether or not treated with calcium lactate. FIG. 21bprovides flow cytometry analyses showing the survival rate of a breastcancer cell line (MCF-7) that was not treated with calcium lactate. FIG.21c provides flow cytometry analyses showing the survival rate of abreast cancer cell line (MCF-7) that was treated with calcium lactate.FIG. 21d provides photos showing the result of confirming cellmigration, which shows metastatic capacity of a breast cancer cell line(MDA-MB231) depending on whether or not treated with calcium lactate.FIG. 21e provides flow cytometry analyses showing the survival rate of abreast cancer cell line (MDA-MB231) that was not treated with calciumlactate. FIG. 21f provides flow cytometry analyses showing the survivalrate of a breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB231) that was treated withcalcium lactate.

FIG. 22 provides microscopic images showing the sphere change of thecolorectal cancer stem cell line from the treatment with calciumlactate.

FIG. 23 provides representative pictures and quantitative analysisgraphs (left: HCT-116, middle: HT-29, right: DLD-1) showing thecomparison of a colony-forming ability of colorectal cancer cell linesdepending on the concentration of calcium lactate.

FIG. 24a provides graphs and tables showing the result of comparison ofa colony-forming ability of melanoma cell lines SKMEL-02 depending onthe concentration of calcium lactate. FIG. 24b provides graph and tableshowing the result of comparison of a colony-forming ability of melanomacell lines SKMEL-28 depending on the concentration of calcium lactate.

FIG. 25a provides quantitative analysis graphs showing the result ofcomparing the survival rate of colorectal cancer cell lines treated withcalcium lactate, 5-indane sulfornamide (IS) as an inhibitor of carbonicanhydrase, or cinnamic acid (CA) as an inhibitor of MCT-4 which is apathway of lactate outflow, individually. FIG. 25b provides quantitativeanalysis graph showing the result of comparing the viability rate ofcolorectal cancer cell lines treated with calcium lactate, 5-IS as aninhibitor of carbonic anhydrase, or CA as an inhibitor of MCT-4 which isa pathway of lactate outflow, in combination.

FIG. 26 provides quantitative analysis graphs showing the result ofcomparing the effects of calcium lactate on the survival rate ofcolorectal cancer cell lines cultured in the ultra-low adhesive plates.

FIG. 27 is a schematic illustration of experimental scheme for calciumlactate treatment using animal models.

FIG. 28 is a picture showing the change in expression levels of PARPproteins extracted from the tumor tissue of the xenograft animal modeldepending on treatment method of calcium lactate, and whether or nottreated with calcium lactate.

FIG. 29 provides photos showing the change in expression levels ofHIF-1α or GAPDH depending on whether or not treated with calciumlactate, in proteins extracted from tumor tissues of the animal modelsin which calcium lactate was orally administered.

FIG. 30 provides a graph showing the change in tumor volume depending onwhether or not treated with calcium lactate in an animal model in which2.5 mM calcium lactate was orally administered.

FIG. 31 provides western blots showing the change in the expressionlevels of HIF-1α or GAPDH in the protein extracted from tumor tissues ofthe xenograft animal model depending on whether or not treated withcalcium lactate around the tumor.

FIG. 32 provides a graph showing the change in tumor volume depending onwhether or not treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate around a tumor.

FIG. 33 provides representative pictures showing the change in tumormorphology of an animal model depending on the injection of 2.5 mMcalcium lactate around a tumor.

FIG. 34 provides a graph showing the change in tumor volume depending onwhether or not treated with calcium lactate, in an animal model in which25 mM calcium lactate was subcutaneously injected around theinterscapular region.

FIG. 35 provides representative pictures showing the change in tumormorphology in an animal model depending on the calcium lactatetreatment.

FIG. 36 is a schematic illustration of experimental scheme for thecombination treatment with radiation and calcium lactate using animalmodels.

FIG. 37a provides a graph showing the change in tumor volume over timein an animal cancer model, which was prepared by implanting HT-29colorectal cancer cell line into the flank depending on whether treatedwith radiation and calcium lactate individually or in combination. FIG.37b provides a graph showing the change in tumor volume over time in ananimal cancer model, which was prepared by implanting a HCT-116colorectal cancer cell line into the flank depending on whether treatedwith radiation and calcium lactate individually or in combination.

FIG. 38a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treatedwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Imatinib, aloneor in combination. FIG. 38b shows the result of comparing thesuppression of the formation of individual colony when a humancolorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treated with 2.5 mM calciumlactate and 1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Imatinib, alone or in combination.

FIG. 39a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human colorectal cancer cell line (HCT-116) was treatedwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Imatinib, aloneor in combination. FIG. 39b shows the result of comparing thesuppression of the formation of individual colony when a humancolorectal cancer cell line (HCT-116) was treated with 2.5 mM calciumlactate and 1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Imatinib, alone or in combination.

FIG. 40a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treatedwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 2.5 μM, 5 μM, and 10 μM 5-FU, alone orin combination. FIG. 40b shows the result of comparing the suppressionof the formation of individual colony when a human colorectal cancercell line (HT-29) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 2.5 μM, 5μM, and 1 μM 5-FU, alone or in combination

FIG. 41a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human colorectal cancer cell line (HCT-116) was treatedwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 2.5 μM, 5 μM, and 10 μM 5-FU, alone orin combination. FIG. 41b shows the result of comparing the suppressionof the formation of individual colony when a human colorectal cancercell line (HCT-116) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 2.5 μM,5 μM, and 10 μM 5-FU, alone or in combination.

FIG. 42a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was treated with2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.63 nM, 1.3 nM, and 2.5 nM Paclitaxel, aloneor in combination. FIG. 42b shows the result of comparing thesuppression of the formation of individual colony when a human breastcancer cell line (MCF-7) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and0.63 nM, 1.3 nM, and 2.5 nM Paclitaxel, alone or in combination.

FIG. 43a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human lung cancer cell line (A549) was treated with 2.5mM calcium lactate and 0.63 nM, 1.3 nM, and 2.5 nM Paclitaxel, alone orin combination. FIG. 43b shows the result of comparing the suppressionof the formation of individual colony when a human lung cancer cell line(A549) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.63 nM, 1.3 nM, and2.5 nM Paclitaxel, alone or in combination.

FIG. 44a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human lung cancer cell line (A549) was treated with 2.5mM calcium lactate and 1.3 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Gefitinib, alone or incombination. FIG. 44b shows the result of comparing the suppression ofthe formation of individual colony when a human lung cancer cell line(A549) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 1.3 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5μM Gefitinib, alone or in combination.

FIG. 45a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Hep3B) wastreated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μMSorafenib, alone or in combination. FIG. 45b shows the result ofcomparing the suppression of the formation of individual colony when ahuman hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Hep3B) was treated with 2.5 mMcalcium lactate and 1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Sorafenib, alone or incombination.

FIG. 46a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treatedwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μM Irinotecan, aloneor in combination. FIG. 46b shows the result of comparing thesuppression of the formation of individual colony when a humancolorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treated with 2.5 mM calciumlactate and 0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μM Irinotecan, alone or in combination.

FIG. 47a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human lung cancer cell line (A549) was treated with 2.5mM calcium lactate and 0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μM Erlotinib, alone or incombination. FIG. 47b shows the result of comparing the suppression ofthe formation of individual colony when a human lung cancer cell line(A549) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2μM Erlotinib, alone or in combination.

FIG. 48a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treatedwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μM Sunitinib, aloneor in combination. FIG. 48b shows the result of comparing thesuppression of the formation of individual colony when a humancolorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treated with 2.5 mM calciumlactate and 0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μM Sunitinib, alone or in combination.

FIG. 49a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human lung cancer cell line (A549) was treated with 2.5mM calcium lactate and 5 nM, 10 nM, and 20 nM Methotrexate, alone or incombination. FIG. 49b shows the result of comparing the suppression ofthe formation of individual colony when a human lung cancer cell line(A549) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 5 nM, 10 nM, and 20nM Methotrexate, alone or in combination.

FIG. 50a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human lung cancer cell line (A549) was treated with 2.5mM calcium lactate and 2.5 μM, 5 μM, and 10 μM Carboplatin, alone or incombination. FIG. 50b shows the result of comparing the suppression ofthe formation of individual colony when a human lung cancer cell line(A549) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 2.5 μM, 5 μM, and 10μM Carboplatin, alone or in combination.

FIG. 51a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human lung cancer cell line (A549) was treated with 2.5mM calcium lactate and 0.6 nM, 1.3 nM, and 2.5 nM Docetaxel, alone or incombination. FIG. 51b shows the result of comparing the suppression ofthe formation of individual colony when a human lung cancer cell line(A549) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.6 nM, 1.3 nM, and2.5 nM Docetaxel, alone or in combination.

FIG. 52a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was treated with2.5 mM calcium lactate and 2 μM, 4 μM, and 8 μM Lapatinib, alone or incombination. FIG. 52b shows the result of comparing the suppression ofthe formation of individual colony when a human breast cancer cell line(MCF-7) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 2 μM, 4 μM, and 8 μMLapatinib, alone or in combination.

FIG. 53a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human kidney cancer cell line (Caki-1) was treated with2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.3 nM, 0.5 nM, and 1 nM Everolimus, alone orin combination. FIG. 53b shows the result of comparing the suppressionof the formation of individual colony when a human kidney cancer cellline (Caki-1) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.3 nM, 0.5nM, and 1 nM Everolimus, alone or in combination.

FIG. 54a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was treated with2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.23 μg/ml, 0.45 μg/ml, and 1.8 μg/mlTrastuzumab, alone or in combination. FIG. 54b shows the result ofcomparing the suppression of the formation of individual colony when ahuman breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was treated with 2.5 mM calciumlactate and 0.23 μg/ml, 0.45 μg/ml, and 1.8 μg/ml Trastuzumab, alone orin combination

FIG. 55a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treatedwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 1.3 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Oxaliplatin,alone or in combination. FIG. 55b shows the result of comparing thesuppression of the formation of individual colony when a humancolorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treated with 2.5 mM calciumlactate and 1.3 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Oxaliplatin, alone or incombination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrativeembodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claimsare not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, andother changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe subject matter presented here.

The inventors of the present disclosure have conducted various studiesfor developing a method of treating cancer by effectively suppressinggrowth and metastasis of cancer cells and paid attention to themetabolic pathway of cancer cells. In cancer cells, energy is producedfrom glucose through glycolysis in which oxygen is not used, rather thanthrough mitochondrial respiratory chain using a large amount of oxygen.During metabolism of cancer, lactate is produced in large amount.However, the acidity of the lactate causes inefficiency in survival ofcancer cells. Thus, surplus lactate is exported to the outside of thecells. For this reason, it was assumed that by artificiallyadministering a metal lactate salt to a cancer patient and accumulatinglactate within cancer cells, the accumulated lactate can cause metabolicdisorder of cancer or develop cancer microenvironment unfavorable to thesurvival of cancer and thus resultantly cause fatal damage.

Accordingly, a metal lactate salt was selected as a material fordisturbing metabolism of cancer cells. This is because it was expectedthat since glucose is converted into pyruvate through glycolysis andthen forms lactate, if lactate can be accumulated in cancer cells, theglycolysis may slow down or stop. However, lactate can be easilydegraded in the body and thus cannot be effectively transported tocancer cells. Thus, it was expected that lactate cannot readily bedegraded in an extracellular environment but can be easily introducedinto cells and effectively degraded therein by using a metal lactatesalt.

Meanwhile, the inventors of the present disclosure considered that inthe case of using a metal lactate salt including a metallic componentwhich cannot be easily metabolized in the body, the metallic componentmay cause a side effect due to characteristics of an anticancer drugwhich can be frequently administered in a large amount, and thusselected among various metal lactate salts a metal lactate salt fromsodium lactate, potassium lactate, and calcium lactate, which has anexcellent binding force with respect to lactate and an excellent lactatedelivery efficiency to a cancer cell without containing a metalliccomponent which cannot be easily metabolized in the body. As a result,it was confirmed that calcium lactate has the highest binding force withrespect to lactate and the highest lactate delivery efficiency to acancer cell, and calcium lactate was finally selected.

As a result of administration of the selected calcium lactate to cancercells, it was confirmed that the levels of lactate, LDH-B (lactatedehydrogenase B), which affects metabolism of lactate, pyruvate, PDH(pyruvate dehydrogenase), which affects metabolism of pyruvate, and α-KG(α-ketoglutarate) in cells are increased; the levels of β-catenin, as acancer growth factor, PARP, which suppresses intracellular DNA damage,HIF-1α (hypoxia inducible factor 1α) and VEGF (vascular endothelialgrowth factor), which affect cancer cell metastasis, invasion, andangiogenesis in cells are decreased; and the levels of growth,metastasis (migration), and tube formation of the cancer cells aredecreased.

Further, the anticancer activity of calcium lactate was verifiedmeasured using animal models and it was confirmed that administration ofcalcium lactate suppressed growth of cancer cells in animal models.

Furthermore, in case of administration in combination with conventionalradiation, it was confirmed that the equivalent anticancer effect can beobtained with a decreased amount of radiation as compared with theconventional case. Also, in case of administration to relevant cancercell lines in combination with various kinds of well-known anticancerdrugs, it was confirmed that a higher anticancer effect can be obtainedwith a decreased concentration of the anticancer drugs as compared witha case of administration alone.

Most of metal lactate salts showing such anticancer activities can bemetabolized in the body and known as having no side effects. Thus, themetal lactate salts can be used as active ingredients of anticancerdrugs or health foods with safety and excellent anticancer activity. Theanticancer effects of these metal lactate salts have not been knownbefore, but have been demonstrated first by the inventors of the presentdisclosure.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides apharmaceutical composition for treating cancer including metal lactatesalts as active ingredients.

The term “metal lactate salts” used herein refers to compounds producedor synthesized in the form of lactic acid bonded to a metal ion.

In the present disclosure, if the metal lactate salts are administeredinto a cancer cell, the metal lactate salts are used to dissociatelactate and thus increase the concentration of lactate in the cancercell. Metal lactate salts used as active ingredients of a pharmaceuticalcomposition for treating cancer according to the present disclosure arenot particularly limited as long as they can disturb metabolism of acancer cell. In one example, calcium lactate, zinc lactate, magnesiumlactate, sodium lactate, potassium lactate, ferrous lactate, chromiumlactate, copper lactate, and manganese lactate capable of forming astable compound outside a cell and dissociating lactate and thusincreasing the concentration of lactate in a cancer cell may be usedindividually or in combination. In another example, calcium lactate,sodium lactate, and potassium lactate capable of forming a stablecompound outside a cell and dissociating lactate and thus increasing theconcentration of lactate in a cancer cell without containing a metalliccomponent which cannot be easily metabolized in the body may be usedindividually or in combination. In yet another example, calcium lactatecapable of forming a stable compound outside a cell and dissociatinglactate and thus increasing the concentration of lactate in a cancercell with excellent delivery efficiency to the cancer cell withoutcontaining a metallic component which cannot be easily metabolized inthe body may be used.

In the present disclosure, all of calcium lactate, sodium lactate, andpotassium lactate are synthesized as metal lactate salts, and it wasconfirmed that these metal lactate salts can be dissociated to lactatein a cancer cell. Particularly, calcium lactate having the highestlactate delivery efficiency was used to demonstrate various anticanceractivities.

However, calcium lactate is just an example of metal lactate saltsprovided in the present disclosure. The metal lactate salts provided inthe present disclosure are not limited to calcium lactate, and it isobvious that various metal lactate salts can be used as activeingredients of a pharmaceutical composition for treating canceraccording to the present disclosure.

The metal lactate salts can show improved anticancer activity in case ofadministration in combination with a conventional anticancer drug. Thisis because the conventional anticancer drug does not have a mechanisminvolved in glycolysis of a cancer cell. Therefore, an anticancer drugwhich can be administered in combination with the pharmaceuticalcomposition for treating cancer provided in the present disclosure isnot particularly limited as long as it is not directly involved inglycolysis of a cancer cell. For example, Imatinib, 5-FU(5-Florouracil), Irinotecan, Sunitinib, Oxaliplatin, Paclitaxel,Lapatinib, Trastuzumab (Herceptin), Gefitinib, Erlotinib, Methotrexate,Carboplatin, Docetaxel, Everolimus, and Sorafenib, which are well-knownanticancer drugs, 5-indane sulfonamide (IS), which is a carbonicanhydrase inhibitor known as having an anticancer activity, and cinnamicacid (CA), which is a monocarboxylate transporter inhibitor, may beused.

Further, the metal lactate salts decrease the expression of PARP, HIF-1αand VEGF that give a cancer cell resistance to radiation in case ofradiation. Thus, in case of administration of the metal lactate salts incombination with radiation, the metal lactate salts improve theanticancer activity of radiation. Therefore, it is possible to obtain anequivalent anticancer effect with a decreased amount of radiation ascompared with the conventional case. In this case, the amount ofradiation is not particularly limited, and may be 2 to 10 Gy per day.The radiation may be irradiated once per day, or may be irradiated overseveral days by dividing the amount of radiation.

The term “calcium lactate” refers to a type of lactate metal salts andrepresented by C₆H₁₀O₆Ca·5H₂O in which calcium ion is bonded to lactate.Calcium lactate is in the form of white powder or granules at roomtemperature, anhydrous at 120° C. heating condition, and has asolubility of 5% (w/v). Further, calcium lactate has excellentbioavailability and body absorption and has not been known as having aside effect and thus has been used mainly as a calcium enhancer or a pHregulator of foods.

In the present disclosure, calcium lactate can be used as an example ofmetal lactate salts which are active ingredients of the pharmaceuticalcomposition for treating cancer. Since calcium bound to lactate is moreabsorbable into a cancer cell than normal cells, calcium lactate has theadvantage of relatively higher efficiency of lactate delivery to cancercells than other types of lactate metal salts.

Cancers which can be treated with the pharmaceutical compositionsprovided in the present disclosure are not particularly limited as longas growth, invasion, and metastasis thereof can be suppressed bydisturbing metabolism thereof. In one example, solid cancers such aslung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, braincancer, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, skin cancer, bone cancer,lymphoma, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, kidney cancer, and melanoma,of which growth, invasion, and metastasis can be suppressed bydisturbing glycolysis may be included. In another example, colorectalcancer, breast cancer, and melanoma, of which growth, invasion, andmetastasis can be suppressed by a treatment with metal lactate salts,may be included.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in orderto synthesize metal lactate salts, among various metal lactate salts,each of calcium lactate, sodium lactate, and potassium lactate, whichdoes not contain metal that can be harmful in the body, was synthesized.Then, by comparison of binding energy and lactate delivery efficiency toa cancer cell, it was confirmed that calcium lactate has the highestbinding force with respect to lactate and the highest lactate deliveryefficiency to a cancer cell, and calcium lactate was finally selected(FIG. 1).

In case of treating a cancer cell with the selected calcium lactate, itwas confirmed that the calcium concentration (FIG. 2) and lactateconcentration (FIG. 3) in the cancer cell increased and the pH in thecell decreased (FIG. 4). Further, it was confirmed that the expressionof β-catenin as a cancer growth factor was suppressed according to genedecoding (FIG. 5), and both of β-catenin and activated β-catenindecreased in protein expression as the concentration of calcium lactateincreased (FIG. 6). Furthermore, it was confirmed that calcium lactatedecreased protein expression of PARP, which repairs intracellular DNAdamage, in a breast cancer cell line (FIG. 8), a colorectal cancer cellline (FIG. 9), and a melanoma cell line (FIG. 10); increased the proteinexpression of LDH-B (lactate dehydrogenase B), which affects metabolismof intracellular lactate (FIG. 11a, 11b, 11c ), increased pyruvate level(FIG. 12), increased the protein expression of PDH (pyruvatedehydrogenase) (FIG. 13a, 13b ), and increased α-KG (α-ketoglutarate)level (FIG. 14a, 14b ); suppressed the protein expression of HIF-1α(hypoxia inducible factor 1α) (FIG. 15) and VEGF (vascular endothelialgrowth factor) (FIG. 16a, 16b ), which affects metastasis, invasion, andangiogenesis of a cancer cell, and suppressed the tube formation levelsof HUVEC (FIG. 17); suppressed cell migration of a colorectal cancercell line (FIG. 18), a breast cancer cell line (FIG. 19) and a melanomacell line (FIG. 20); increased the cell apoptosis rate of a breastcancer cell line (FIG. 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 21e ) and a colorectal cancercell line (FIG. 22); inhibited the colony-forming ability of acolorectal cancer cell line (FIG. 23) and a melanoma cell line (FIG.24a, 24b ); and increased anticancer efficiency in case ofadministration in combination with a conventional anticancer drug (FIG.25a, 25b ).

Further, as a result of testing the anticancer activity of calciumlactate using animal models, it was confirmed that in a mouse animalmodel prepared with dissemination of a colorectal cancer cell line, thePARP degrading activity increased (FIG. 28), the expressions of HIF-1αand VEGF were suppressed (FIGS. 29 and 31), the growth of tumor wassuppressed (FIGS. 30, 32, and 34), and the tumor volume was decreasedand angiogenesis was also decreased (FIGS. 33 and 35). Meanwhile, as aresult of administration of calcium lactate in combination withradiation, it was confirmed that the growth of tumor was decreased moreeffectively (FIG. 37a, 37b ).

Moreover, in the case of administration of calcium lactate incombination with various anticancer drugs used for treating variouscancers, it was confirmed that the growth of tumor was suppressed moreeffectively as compared with the case in which the anticancer drugs wereadministered alone (FIGS. 38a, 38b to 55a, 55b ).

The pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure may be preparedin the form of a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer and mayfurther include appropriate carriers, excipients, or diluents that aregenerally used in preparation of a pharmaceutical composition.Specifically, the pharmaceutical composition may be formulated,according to a traditional method, into oral dosage forms such aspowder, granule, tablet, capsule, suspension, emulsion, syrup, aerosol,oral patch, etc., external preparation, patch for external use,suppository or in the form of sterile injectable solutions. In thepresent disclosure, the carriers, excipients and diluents which may beincluded in the pharmaceutical composition may be lactose, dextrose,sucrose, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, erythritol, maltitol, starch,acasia rubber, alginate, gelatin, calcium phosphate, calcium silicate,cellulose, methyl cellulose, amorphous cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone,water, methylhydroxybenzoate, propylhydroxybenzoate, talc, magnesiumstearate, and mineral oil. The formulation of the composition mayinvolve using diluents or excipients such as fillers, bulking agents,binders, wetting agents, disintegrants, surfactants, etc. The solidformulations for oral administration may include tablets, depots, pills,powders, granules, capsules, oral patches, etc. The solid formulationsmay be prepared by mixing at least one excipient, such as starch,calcium carbonate, sucrose, lactose, or gelatin, etc. with the extractsand fractions thereof. In addition to such general excipients,lubricants such as magnesium stearate or talc may also be used. Theliquid formulations for oral administration may include suspensions,solutions for internal use, emulsions, syrups, etc. In addition togeneral diluents such as water and liquid paraffin, different excipientssuch as wetting agents, flavors, fragrances, preserves, etc., may beincluded. The formulations for parenteral administration may includesterile aqueous solutions, non-aqueous solvents, suspensions, emulsions,lyophilized preparations, patches for external use, or suppositories.The non-aqueous solutions and the suspensions may include propyleneglycol, polyethylene glycol, vegetable oil such as olive oil, injectableester such as ethyloleate, etc. The base for suppositories may includewitepsol, macrogol, tween 61, cacao butter, laurin butter,glycerogelatin, etc.

The amount of metal lactate salts included in the pharmaceuticalcomposition of the present disclosure may be, but is not particularlylimited to, between 0.0001 wt % and 50 wt %, or more preferably between0.01 wt % and 20 wt %, based on the total weight of the finalcomposition. The concentration of the metal lactate salts included in asingle dose of the pharmaceutical composition may be 2.5 mM to 25 mM.

The pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure may beadministered in a pharmaceutically effective amount, and as used herein,the term “pharmaceutically effective amount” refers to an amountsufficient to treat or prevent diseases, at a reasonable benefit/riskratio applicable to any medical treatment or prevention. The effectivedosage level may be determined depending on severity of the disease,activity of the drug, a patient's age, body weight, health and sex,sensitivity to the drug, administration time, administration route, andexcretion rate of the composition of the present disclosure, duration oftreatment, drugs used simultaneously or in combination with thecomposition of the present disclosure, and other factors known in themedical field. The pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosuremay be administered alone or in combination with other publicly-knownanticancer drugs or components known as known as having an anticanceractivity. It is important to administer the composition in the minimumamount that can exhibit the maximum effect without causing side effects,in consideration of all the above factors.

The dosage of the pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosuremay be determined by those skilled in the art in consideration of thepurpose of use, severity of the disease, a patient's age, body weight,sex, and anamnesis, the kind of material used as an active ingredient,or the like. The pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosuremay be administered, for example, at a dosage of about 0.1 ng to about1,000 mg/kg per adult, or preferably 1 ng to about 100 mg/kg per adult,and the administration frequency of the composition of the presentdisclosure may be, but is not particularly limited to, once or a fewdivided doses a day. The dosage or the administration frequency does notlimit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a methodof treating cancer including the step of administering apharmaceutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition to asubject having cancer.

As used herein, the term “subject” includes all mammals including mice,livestock, and humans who have cancer, without limitations.

The term “treatment” used herein refers to all activities to alleviateor improve the symptoms of cancer by administering the pharmaceuticalcomposition including the metal lactate salts as active ingredients ofthe present disclosure to a subject having cancer.

In the method of treating cancer of the present disclosure, the kinds ofcancer to be treated are the same as described above.

The composition can be administered in a single or multiple dosage form.In this case, the composition may be formulated into liquid, powder,aerosol, injection, fluid transfusion (intravenous drip), capsule, pill,tablet, suppository, or patch.

The pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer of the presentdisclosure may be administered via any of common routes as long as it isable to reach a target tissue.

The pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure may beadministered, but not particularly limited to, intraperitoneally,intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intradermally, in theform of a transdermal patch, orally, intranasally, intrapulmonarily orintrarectally depending on the purpose. However, the pharmaceuticalcomposition may be administered in a non-formulated form for oraladministration, and since the metal lactate salts may be denatured bygastric acid upon oral administration, active ingredients of acomposition for oral administration should be coated or formulated forprotection against degradation in the stomach, or orally administered inthe form of a patch for oral administration. In addition, thecomposition may be administered using a certain apparatus capable oftransporting the active ingredients into a target cell.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides apharmaceutical composition for treating cancer including metal lactatesalts and anticancer drug as active ingredients.

As described above, the metal lactate salts provided in the presentdisclosure can show improved anticancer activity in cases ofadministration in combination with a conventional anticancer drug. Thisis because the conventional anticancer drug does not have a mechanisminvolved in glycolysis of a cancer cell. Therefore, an anticancer drugincluding a metal lactate salt provided in the present disclosure and anactive ingredient of publicly-known anticancer drugs can be used moreeffectively for treating cancer.

Herein, the metal lactate salts, the publicly-known anticancer drugs,cancer to which the pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer canbe applied, the dosage, the administration method, and the like are thesame as described above.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides apharmaceutical composition for suppressing cancer metastasis includingmetal lactate salts as active ingredients.

The metal lactate salts provided in the present disclosure can suppressvarious characteristics which can induce metastasis of cancer cells,such as metastasis, invasion, angiogenesis of cancer cells, tubeformation, cell migration, colony-forming ability, etc., and, thus, canbe used as active ingredients of a pharmaceutical composition forsuppressing cancer metastasis.

Herein, a metastasis-suppressed target cancer is the same as definedabove. For example, the pharmaceutical composition for suppressingcancer metastasis may be used for suppressing the occurrence of one ormore metastatic cancers selected from the group consisting of metastaticlung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, braincancer, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, skin cancer, bone cancer,lymphoma, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, kidney cancer, and melanoma.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, whenvarious cancer cells were treated with calcium lactate as a kind ofmetal lactate salts provided in the present disclosure, it was confirmedthat the protein expressions of HIF-1α (hypoxia inducible factor 1α)(FIG. 15) and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) (FIG. 16), whichaffect metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis of a cancer cell, and thetube formation levels of HUVEC (FIG. 17) were suppressed; cellmigrations of a colorectal cancer cell line (FIG. 18), a breast cancercell line (FIG. 19) and a melanoma cell line (FIG. 20) were suppressed;cell apoptosis rates of a breast cancer cell line (FIG. 21) and acolorectal cancer cell line (FIG. 22) were increased; and colony-formingabilities of a colorectal cancer cell line (FIG. 23) and a melanoma cellline (FIG. 24) were inhibited.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides afood composition for improving cancer including metal lactate salts asactive ingredients.

The metal lactate salts have been generally used for metabolism in vivo,and calcium lactate was certified as having no side effects and has beenused as an official food additive. Thus, the metal lactate salts can betaken in the form of a food which can be daily eaten and can promote theimprovement of cancer. Herein, the amount of metal lactate saltsincluded in the food may be, but is not particularly limited to, between0.001 wt % and 10 wt %, or between 0.1 wt % and 1 wt %, based on thetotal weight of the food composition. If the food is a beverage, themetal lactate salts may be included at a ratio of 1 g to 10 g or 2 g to7 g per 100 ml.

Further, the composition may further include additional components whichhave been typically used in a food composition to improve smell, taste,appearance, etc., for example, vitamins A, C, D, E, B1, B2, B6, B12,niacin, biotin, folate, panthotenic acid, etc. Furthermore, thecomposition may further include minerals such as Zn, Fe, Ca, Cr, Mg, Mn,Cu, etc. Moreover, the composition may further include amino acids suchas lysine, tryptophan, cysteine, valine, etc. In addition, thecomposition may further include food additives such as preservatives(potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, salicylic acid, dehydro sodiumacetate, etc.), disinfectants (bleaching powder, higher bleachingpowder, sodium hypochlorite, etc.), antioxidants (butylhydroxyanisole(BHA), butylhydroxytoluene (BHT), etc.), coloring agents (tar color,etc.), color-developing agents (sodium nitrite, etc.), bleaching agents(sodium sulfite), seasonings (monosodium glutamate (MSG), etc.),sweeteners (dulcin, cyclemate, saccharin, sodium, etc.), flavors(vaniline, lactones, etc.), swelling agents (alum, potassium D-hydrogentartrate, etc.), fortifiers, emulsifiers, thickeners (adhesive pastes),film-forming agents, gum base agents, antifoaming agents, solvents,improvers, etc. The food additives may be selected according to the kindof food and used in an appropriate amount.

Meanwhile, functional foods for improving cancer may be manufacturedusing the food composition for improving cancer including metal lactatesalts.

Specifically, processed foods capable of improving cancer may bemanufactured using the food composition. Examples of the processed foodsmay be manufactured as functional foods in the form of cookies,beverages, alcoholic beverages, fermented foods, canned foods,milk-processed foods, meat-processed foods, or noodles. Herein, examplesof the cookies include biscuits, pies, cakes, breads, candies, jellies,gums, cereals (meal substitutes such as grain flakes). Examples ofbeverages include drinking water, carbonated soft drinks, functionalisotonic drinks, juices (e.g., apple-, pear-, grape-, aloe-, tangerine-,peach-, carrot-, tomato juices, etc.), sweet rice drinks, etc. Examplesof alcoholic beverages include refined rice wine, whisky, soju (Koreandistilled spirits), beer, liquors, fruits wine, etc. Examples offermented foods include soy sauce, bean paste, red pepper paste, etc.Examples of canned foods include seafood canned foods (e.g., cannedtuna, mackerel, mackerel pike, conch, etc.), livestock canned foods(canned beef, pork, chicken, turkey, etc.), and agricultural cannedfoods (canned corn, peach, pineapple, etc.). Examples of milk-processedfoods include cheese, butter, yogurt, etc. Examples of meat-processedfoods include pork cutlets, beef cutlets, chicken cutlets, sausages,sweet and sour pork, nuggets, neobiani, etc. Examples of noodles includedried noodles, plain noodles, ramen, udon noodles, Korean cold noodles,sealed and packed fresh noodles, etc. Additionally, the composition maybe used for manufacturing retort foods, soups, etc.

As used herein, the term “functional food”, which has the same meaningas the term “food for special health use (FoSHU)”, refers to a food withhigh effects in medicinal and medical treatment, processed so as toefficiently exhibit a body modulating function as well as providenutrients. The functional food may be manufactured in various formsincluding tablets, capsules, powders, granules, liquids, pills, etc., inorder to obtain useful effects for the improvement of cancer.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in more detailwith reference to the following examples. However, these examples areprovided for illustrative purposes only but not intended to limit thescope of the present disclosure.

Example 1: Preparation of Metal Lactate Salt

Calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, or potassium carbonate was reactedwith lactate so as to obtain metal lactate salt (calcium lactate, sodiumlactate, or potassium lactate) solutions, respectively. Each of them wasfiltered, dried, and pulverized so as to obtain metal lactate salt(calcium lactate, sodium lactate, or potassium lactate) in the form ofpowder. Then, the structure and binding energy of the obtained metallactate salts (calcium lactate, sodium lactate, or potassium lactate)were analyzed (FIG. 1).

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram and a table comparing the structure andbinding energy among calcium lactate, sodium lactate and potassiumlactate, each having a molecular structure similar to that of calciumlactate. As can be seen in FIG. 1, it was confirmed that calcium lactatehas relatively high binding energy as compared to sodium lactate andpotassium lactate.

In the following, the experiments using calcium lactate havingrelatively high binding energy were conducted.

Example 2: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Tumor Microenvironment

After the treatment of a cancer cell with calcium lactate, the change inconcentration of calcium, the change in concentration of lactate, andthe change in pH in the cell were analyzed to predict the inflow levelsof calcium lactate.

Example 2-1: Change in Calcium Level

Each of human colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29) with thecell number of 5×10⁵ cells cultured in a cancer cell culture medium(RPMI1640 medium including 10% FBS and 1% penicillin/streptomycin) at37° C. with 5% CO₂ was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and thencultured for 24 hours. The cultured cancer cells were treated with 10 μMFluo-3/AM calcium indicator and 25% Pluronic F-127, reacted at 37° C.for 30 minutes, applied with fluorescence probes, and then photographedwith a confocal microscope (FIG. 2). In this case, cancer cellsuntreated with calcium lactate were used as control groups.

FIG. 2 provides fluorescence microscope images showing the result ofcomparing the calcium levels in cancer cells depending on whether or nottreated with calcium lactate (CaLa). As can be seen from FIG. 2, it wasconfirmed that the concentration of calcium was increased in cancercells treated with calcium lactate.

Example 2-2: Change in Lactate Level

The cells cultured in Example 2-1 were cultured again in a mediumincluding 3 mM (low) or 11 mM (normal) glucose. The cultured cells weredisrupted by ultrasonication. The concentration of lactate included inthe disrupted cells was measured using a lactate assay kit (AbCam,Cambridge, Mass.) (FIG. 3). In this case, cancer cells untreated withcalcium lactate were used as control groups.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the result of comparing the lactate levels incancer cells depending on whether or not treated with calcium lactate(CaLa). As can be seen from FIG. 3, it was confirmed that regardless ofthe concentration of glucose included in the medium, the concentrationof lactate was increased in the cancer cells treated with calciumlactate which was more apparent in the case of culturing the cells in amedium having high-concentration glucose.

Example 2-3: Change in pH Inside and Outside Cancer Cell

From the results shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, it was confirmed that incases of treating a cancer cell with calcium lactate, the calciumlactate flows into the cancer cell. Then, it was checked whether or notthe pH inside and outside the cancer cell is changed by the calciumlactate.

Specifically, with the cells cultured in Example 2-1, an extracellularpH was measured with a pH meter from the medium for the cells treatedwith calcium lactate and then cultured and an intracellular pH wasmeasured with a pH detection kit (Life Technologies, CA) from the cellstreated with calcium lactate and then cultured (FIG. 4). In this case,cancer cells untreated with calcium lactate were used as control groups.

FIG. 4 provides graphs showing the changes in intracellular andextracellular pH of cancer cells treated with calcium lactate, and theleft graph shows the change in extracellular pH of the cancer cells andthe right graph shows the change in intracellular pH of the cancercells. As can be seen from FIG. 4, it was confirmed that in case oftreating the cells with calcium lactate, the extracellular pH was notchanged but the intracellular pH was decreased to acidic condition. Ascan be seen from the left graph of FIG. 4, calcium lactate itself didnot change the pH outside the cancer cell but when the calcium lactateflowed into the cancer cell, the pH was decreased, and, thus, theintracellular environment of the cancer cell was changed by the inflowof calcium lactate.

Example 3: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Expression of Cancer GrowthFactor

From the result of Example 2, it was confirmed that the intracellularenvironment of a cancer cell can be changed by calcium lactate.Therefore, in order to check whether such a change causes a change inthe growth of a cancer cell, the expression levels of β-catenin, whichis one of the cancer growth factors, was checked at the gene and proteinexpression level, depending on the treatment with calcium lactate, in acolorectal cancer or breast cancer cell line.

Example 3-1: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Expression Levels of β-Cateninin Colorectal Cancer Cell Line

Human colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116, HT-29, and DLD-1) werecultured by the same method as that of Example 2-1 except that they weretreated with 0 mM, 1.5 mM, or 2.5 mM calcium lactate, and the culturedcancer cells were obtained. Then, expression levels of 3-catenindepending on the concentration of calcium lactate were compared at theexpression levels of mRNA and protein included therein.

Firstly, in order to compare mRNA expression levels, the total RNA wasextracted from each of the cancer cells using an RNeasy mini kit andcDNA was synthesized using a reverse transcriptase. The gene ofβ-catenin was obtained through reverse transcriptase PCR using thesynthesized cDNA as a template and the primers described below.

β-catenin F: (SEQ ID NO. 1) 5′-AAAATGGCAGTGCGTTTAG-3′ β-catenin R:(SEQ ID NO. 2) 5′-TTTGAAGGCAGTCTGTCGTA-3′ ACTIN F: (SEQ ID NO. 3)5′-AAC-TGGAACGGTGAAGGT-3′ ACTIN R: (SEQ ID NO. 4)5′-CCTGTAACAACGCATCTCAT-3′

The upper part of FIG. 5 provides electrophoretic images showing theresult of comparing mRNA expression levels of β-catenin in humancolorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116, HT-29, and DLD-1) treated withcalcium lactate at various concentrations, and the lower part of FIG. 5provides Western blotting images showing the result of comparing proteinexpression levels of β-catenin in human colorectal cancer cell lines(HCT-116, HT-29, and DLD-1) treated with calcium lactate at variousconcentrations. As can be seen from the upper part of FIG. 5, there wasno difference at the mRNA expression levels of β-catenin, depending onthe concentration of calcium lactate.

Then, in order to compare protein expression levels, each of the cancercells was disrupted and electrophoresis was performed thereto. Then, aWestern blot using anti-β-catenin antibody as a primary antibody and ananti-rabbit IgG conjugate as a secondary antibody was conducted (lowerpart of FIG. 5) and the blots were analyzed with the Image-J program. Inthis case, actin was used as internal control groups.

The upper part of FIG. 5 provides electrophoretic images showing theresult of comparing mRNA expression levels of β-catenin in humancolorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116, HT-29, and DLD-1) treated withcalcium lactate at various concentrations, and the lower part of FIG. 5provides Western blotting images showing the result of comparing proteinexpression levels of β-catenin in human colorectal cancer cell lines(HCT-116, HT-29, and DLD-1) treated with calcium lactate at variousconcentrations. As can be seen from the lower part of FIG. 5, it wasconfirmed that as the concentration of calcium lactate is increased, theprotein expression levels of β-catenin is decreased unlike the mRNAexpression levels of β-catenin.

Therefore, it was confirmed that calcium lactate flowing into a cancercell changes the intracellular environment of the cancer cell and thusexpression of β-catenin, which is a cancer growth factor, is suppressedat the gene decoding level.

Example 3-2: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Expression Levels of β-Cateninin Breast Cancer Cell Line

Using the same method as that of Example 3-1 the expression levels ofβ-catenin and activated β-catenin depending on the concentration ofcalcium lactate were compared at the protein expression level (FIG. 6)with a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) cultured in a cancer cellculture medium (RPMI1640 medium including 10% FBS and 1%penicillin/streptomycin) at 37° C. with 5% CO₂ and a human breast cancercell line (MDA-MB-231) cultured in another cancer cell culture medium(DMEM medium including 10% FBS and 1% penicillin/streptomycin) at 37° C.with 5% CO₂.

FIG. 6 provides Western blotting images showing the result of comparingprotein expression levels of the total β-catenin and activated β-cateninin human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) treated withcalcium lactate at various concentrations. As can be seen from FIG. 6,it was confirmed that as the concentration of calcium lactate isincreased, the protein expression levels of both the β-catenin and theactivated β-catenin are decreased.

Example 4: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Cancer Energetics

Through Example 2, it was confirmed that when a cancer cell line istreated with calcium lactate, the concentration of calcium lactate inthe cancer cell line is increased. Then, it was checked whether or notthe increased lactate changes lactate synthesis.

Human colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29) were culturedunder normoxia or hypoxia condition. The cell lines cultured under thehypoxia condition were treated with calcium lactate, and then,expression levels of GLUT 1 and HK2 in each of the cultured cell lineswere compared at the mRNA and protein expression levels (FIG. 7).

FIG. 7 is a real-time PCR and a western blot showing the effect ofcalcium lactate in the cancer cell line under hypoxic conditions. Thegraph shows mRNA expression levels of glucose transporter (GLUT)-1 andhexokinase (HK)2 which involved in the early stage of glycolysis andwestern blotting images showing protein expression levels of HK2. As canbe seen from FIG. 7, it was confirmed that under the hypoxia condition,the expression levels of GLUT 1 and HK2 acting in the early stage ofglycolysis are increased and as a result the glycolysis is activated buttreating the cell lines with calcium lactate the activation was reduced.

Example 5: Analysis of Stabilization of Cancer Gene Caused by CalciumLactate

It was checked whether or not the treatment with calcium lactate causesa change in expression levels of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)which plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of DNA as apart of a base excision route repairing damaged genes.

Example 5-1: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Expression Levels of PARP inBreast Cancer Cell Line

Human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) were cultured bythe same method as that of Example 2-1 except that they were treatedwith 0 mM, 2.5 mM, or 5.0 mM calcium lactate, and the cultured cancercells were obtained. Then, changes in expression level depending on theconcentration of calcium lactate was analyzed at the protein expressionlevels of PARP included therein (FIG. 8). In this case, the change inexpression level was analyzed through a Western blot using the Image-Jprogram with anti-PARP antibody as a primary antibody and anti-rabbitIgG conjugate as a secondary antibody, and GAPDH was used as internalcontrol groups.

FIG. 8 provides Western blotting images showing the effects of calciumlactate on protein expression levels of PARP and cleaved PARP expressedin human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). As can be seenfrom FIG. 8, it was confirmed that as the concentration of calciumlactate is increased, the protein expression levels of PARP in each ofthe breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) is decreased.Meanwhile, the protein expression levels of the truncated PARP isincreased in the MCF-7 cell line. Therefore, it was confirmed thatcalcium lactate not only stops glycolysis in a cancer cell but alsoinduces apoptosis of a cancer cell by stopping glycolysis and thus canbe used as an anticancer drug.

Example 5-2: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Expression Levels of PARP inColorectal Cancer Cell Line

The protein expression levels of PARP expressed in the colorectal cancercell line were compared (FIG. 9) after a human colorectal cancer cellline (HCT-116) was treated individually or in combination for 24 hourswith 5 mM calcium lactate, 5-indane sulfornamide (IS) as an inhibitor ofcarbonic anhydrase, or cinnamic acid (CA) as an inhibitor of MCT-4 whichis a pathway of lactate. In this case, an untreated cancer cell line wasused as a control group.

FIG. 9 provides a Western blotting image and a graph showing the resultof comparing protein expression levels of PARP in colorectal cancer celllines treated with calcium lactate, 5-indane sulfornamide (IS) as aninhibitor of carbonic anhydrase, or cinnamic acid (CA) as an inhibitorof MCT-4, which is a pathway of lactate outflow, individually or incombination. As can be seen from FIG. 9, it was confirmed that in caseof the treatment with each of the above-described materials alone, theprotein expression levels of PARP is decreased, only when the humancolorectal cancer cell line is treated with calcium lactate alone.However, it was confirmed that when the human colorectal cancer cellline is treated with combination of two inhibitors while not treatingwith calcium lactate, the protein expression levels of PARP isdecreased, and when the colorectal cancer cell line is treated incombination with each inhibitor and calcium lactate, the proteinexpression levels of PARP was decreased further, and when the humancolorectal cancer cell line is treated in combination with all threematerials, PARP is not detected in a cell.

Example 5-3: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Expression Levels of PARP inMelanoma Cell Line

Each of human melanoma cell lines (SKMEL-02 and SKMEL-28) cultured in acancer cell culture medium (RPMI1640 medium including 10% FBS and 1%penicillin/streptomycin) at 37° C. with 5% CO₂ was treated with 0 mM,0.5 mM, 1.0 mM, 2.5 mM, 5.0 mM, or 10 mM calcium lactate for 12 hours.Then, protein expression levels of PARP expressed in the melanoma celllines were compared (FIG. 10).

FIG. 10 provides Western blotting images showing the result of comparingprotein expression levels of PARP in human melanoma cell lines (SKMEL-02and SKMEL-28) treated with calcium lactate at various concentrations. Ascan be seen from FIG. 10, it was confirmed that the protein expressionlevels of PARP in the melanoma cell lines are also decreased as theconcentration of calcium lactate is increased.

Example 6: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Lactate-Related Metabolism inCancer Cell

From the results shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, it was confirmed that whencalcium lactate flows in a cancer cell, the concentration of lactate inthe cell is increased, and, thus, energy supply through glycolysis maynot be normally performed.

Then, an effect of lactate on intracellular metabolism caused by thetreatment with calcium lactate was examined.

Example 6-1: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Protein Expression Levels ofLDH-B (Lactate Dehydrogenase B)

The effect of calcium lactate on protein expression levels of LDH-B(lactate dehydrogenase B), which is an enzyme for converting lactateinto pyruvate, was examined.

Human colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29) were treated with2.5 mM calcium lactate and cultured for 24 hours. The cultured cancercell lines were immobilized with 4% paraformaldehyde and treated with ananti-rabbit LDHB antibody for 15 hours. Then, the cancer cell lines werewashed with PBS and treated with a secondary antibody conjugated withbiotin and then reacted at room temperature for 2 hours. Then, thecancer cell lines were treated with streptavidine conjugated with FITCto perform fluorescence staining and then photographed with afluorescence microscope (FIG. 11a-11c ). In this case, cancer cell linescultured under normoxia condition (N-control) or hypoxia condition(H-control) were used as control groups, and a nucleus of each cell wasstained using DAPI. Further, the photos were analyzed using the XenogenIn Vivo Imaging System 100 series and Living imaging software (Xenogen).

FIG. 11a provides fluorescence microscope images showing the changes inprotein expression levels of LDH-B in cancer cell lines depending on thetreatment with calcium lactate. FIG. 11b provides fluorescencemicroscope images showing the fluorescence absorbance of cancer cellline depending on the treatment with calcium lactate. FIG. 11c providesquantitative analysis graph showing fluorescence development levelsdepending on the protein expression levels of LDH-B. As can be seen fromFIG. 11a-11c , it was confirmed that the protein expression levels ofLDH-B in the cells treated with calcium lactate are sharply increased.

Example 6-2: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Pyruvate Level

From the result of Example 6-1, it was confirmed that the proteinexpression levels of LDH-B in a cancer cell is increased by treatingwith calcium lactate. Then, the effect of calcium lactate on theintracellular expression levels of pyruvate produced by the LDH-B wasexamined.

Each of human colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29) with thecell number of 5×10⁵ cells was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate for24 hours and the cells were disrupted by ultrasonication and filteredusing a 10 kDa filter so as to obtain filtrate. The obtained filtratewas applied to a pyruvate assay kit (Abcam, Cambridge, Mass.) to measurethe concentration of pyruvate included in the filtrate (FIG. 12).

FIG. 12 is a graph showing changes of pyruvate concentrations in cancercells depending on the treatment with calcium lactate. As can be seenfrom FIG. 12, it was confirmed that the pyruvate levels in the cellstreated with calcium lactate are sharply increased.

Example 6-3: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Protein Expression Levels ofPDH (Pyruvate Dehydrogenase)

From the result of Example 6-2, it was confirmed that a pyruvate levelin a cancer cell is increased by treating with calcium lactate. Then, aneffect of calcium lactate on a protein expression levels of PDH(pyruvate dehydrogenase), which is an enzyme for converting the pyruvateinto a TCA cycle, was examined.

After the same method as that of Example 6-1 except that an anti-rabbitPDH antibody was used instead of the anti-rabbit LDHB antibody wasperformed, protein expression levels of PDH in human colorectal cancercell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29) treated with calcium lactate weremeasured (FIG. 13).

FIG. 13a provides fluorescence microscope images showing changes inprotein expression levels of PDH in cancer cell lines depending on thetreatment with calcium lactate. FIG. 13b provides a quantitativeanalysis graph showing fluorescence development levels of PDH dependingon the treatment with calcium lactate. As can be seen from FIGS. 13a and13b , it was confirmed that the protein expression levels of PDH in thecells treated with calcium lactate are sharply increased.

Example 6-4: Effect of Calcium Lactate on α-KG (α-Ketoglutarate) Level

From the result of Example 6-3, it was confirmed that a proteinexpression levels of PDH in a cancer cell is increased by treating withcalcium lactate. Then, the effect of calcium lactate on an intracellularlevels of α-KG (α-ketoglutarate) produced by the TCA cycle activated bythe PDH was examined. The α-KG can be synthesized by glutamine in amedium. Thus, in this case, cancer cell lines cultured in a normalmedium or a glutamine-free medium were used.

Cancer cell lines with the cell number of 5×10⁵ cells cultured in anormal medium or a glutamine-free medium were treated with 2.5 mMcalcium lactate for 24 hours and the cells were disrupted byultrasonication and filtered using a 10 kDa filter so as to obtainfiltrate. The obtained filtrate was applied to an α-Ketoglutarate assaykit (BioVision, Exton, Pa.) to measure the concentration of α-KGincluded in the filtrate (FIGS. 14a and 14b ).

FIG. 14a provides a quantitative analysis graphs showing the changes inconcentration of α-KG in cancer cell lines with calcium lactatetreatment under normal medium. FIG. 14b provides a quantitative analysisgraph showing the changes in concentration of α-KG in cancer cell lineswith calcium lactate treatment under glutamine-free medium. As can beseen from FIGS. 14a and 14b , it was confirmed that if the cancer celllines cultured in the normal medium or in the glutamine-free medium aretreated with calcium lactate, the α-KG levels in the cells are sharplyincreased.

Summing up the results of Examples 6-1 to 6-4, it can be seen that in acancer cell treated with calcium lactate, levels of LDH-B for convertinglactate into pyruvate, pyruvate produced by the LDH-B, PDH (pyruvatedehydrogenase) for converting the pyruvate into a TCA cycle, and α-KGproduced by the TCA cycle activated by the PDH are increased.

Example 7: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Cancer Cell Metastasis,Invasion, and Expression Levels of Angiogenesis Factor

From the result of Example 6, it was confirmed that in a cancer celltreated with calcium lactate, an α-KG levels is increased. Then, effectsof calcium lactate on expression levels of factors affecting metastasis,invasion, and angiogenesis of a cancer cell of which a proteinexpression levels is regulated by the α-KG were examined.

Example 7-1: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Protein Expression Levels ofHIF-1α (Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1α)

The effect of calcium lactate on protein expression levels of HIF-1α(hypoxia inducible factor 1α) known as a cancer cell metastasis factorwas examined.

Human colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29) were cultured for24 hours, under normoxia or hypoxia condition either treated or nottreated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate. Then, a Western blot using ananti-HIF-1α antibody was conducted to each of the cultured cancer celllines (upper part of FIG. 15).

The upper part of FIG. 15 provides Western blotting images showing theprotein expression levels of HIF-1α expressed in human colorectal cancercell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29) cultured for 24 hours with or without thetreatment with 2.5 mM calcium lactate under normoxia or hypoxiacondition. As can be seen from the upper part of FIG. 15, it wasconfirmed that HIF-1α is expressed under hypoxia condition, but if thecancer cell lines are treated with calcium lactate, HIF-1α is notexpressed even under hypoxia condition.

Then, the human colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29) weretreated with various concentrations (0.5 mM, 1.5 mM and 2.5 mM) of thecalcium lactate under hypoxia condition and cultured and change inexpression levels of HIF-1α in a nucleus of a cancer cell was measured(lower part of FIG. 15).

The lower part of FIG. 15 provides Western blotting images showing aprotein expression levels of HIF-1α expressed in human colorectal cancercell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29) cultured for 24 hours with the treatmentof 0.5 mM, 1.5 mM and 2.5 mM calcium lactate under hypoxia condition. Ascan be seen from the lower part of FIG. 15, it was confirmed that thecalcium lactate suppresses the expression levels of HIF-1α concentrationdependently.

Example 7-2: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Expression Levels of VEGF(Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor)

From the result of Example 7-1, it was confirmed that calcium lactatesuppresses the expression levels of HIF-1α concentration dependently.Then, the effect of calcium lactate on expression levels of a VEGF(vascular endothelial growth factor) known as a cancer cell invasionfactor of which expression is regulated by the HIF-1α was examined.

Human colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29) were treated with2.5 mM calcium lactate under hypoxia condition and cultured for 24hours. Then, mRNA expression levels and protein expression levels ofVEGF in each of the cultured cancer cell lines were analyzed (FIGS. 16aand 16b ). In this case, human colorectal cancer cell lines culturedwithout treating with calcium lactate under normoxia or hypoxiacondition were used as control groups.

FIG. 16a provides graphs showing the result of measurement of an mRNAexpression levels and a protein expression levels (FIG. 16b ) of VEGFexpressed in human colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29)cultured for 24 hours with or without the treatment with 2.5 mM calciumlactate under normoxia or hypoxia condition. As can be seen from FIGS.16a and 16b , it was confirmed that a VEGF level is sharply increasedunder hypoxia condition, but if the cancer cell lines are treated withcalcium lactate, the increased VEGF level is decreased.

Example 7-3: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Cancer Cell-Derived FactorCausing Tube Formation of Human Vascular Endothelial Cell (HUVEC)

In order to confirm the effect of calcium lactate on angiogenesis, theeffect of calcium lactate on the factor secreted from a cancer cellwhich can induce tube formation of a human vascular endothelial cell(HUVEC) was examined.

Cancer cell lines cultured in RPMI-1640 medium added with 1% FBS weretreated with 0.5 mM, 1 mM, 1.5 mM, and 2.5 mM calcium lactate for 24hours and culture supernatants were obtained therefrom. A human vascularendothelial cell (HUVEC) was inoculated into each of the obtainedculture supernatant and cultured to analyze a conformational change ofcells (FIG. 17). In this case, an HUVEC cultured using the culturemedium of a cancer cell line cultured without treating with calciumlactate was used as a control group, and an HUVEC cultured with thetreatment with Sulforaphane, which is a growth inhibitor of an HUVEC,was used as a comparison group.

FIG. 17 is fluorescence images showing the tube formation levels inhuman vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) treated with calcium lactate atvarious concentrations. The HUVEC was cultured using the medium ofcultured cancer cell lines with different concentrations of calciumlactate. As can be seen from FIG. 17, it was confirmed that as comparedwith the control group showing an excellent tube-forming ability, theHUVECs cultured using the culture supernatants of the cancer cell linestreated with calcium lactate showed reduced tube-forming ability as theconcentration of calcium lactate is increased, and the HUVEC cultured inthe culture supernatant of the cancer cell line treated with 2.5 mMcalcium lactate showed reduced tube-forming ability similar to thecomparison group treated with Sulforaphane. It was confirmed that sincethe angiogenesis of the HUVEC is induced by a factor secreted from acancer cell, calcium lactate has concentration dependent inhibitingactivity of the factor inducing angiogenesis.

Summing up the results of Examples 7-1 to 7-3, it can be seen thatcalcium lactate has an effect of inhibiting expression of HIF-1α knownas a cancer cell metastasis factor and VEGF known as a cancer cellinvasion factor and also has an effect reducing angiogenesis.

Example 8: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Metastasis and Invasion ofCancer Cell Line

From the result of Example 7, it was confirmed that calcium lactate hasan effect of inhibiting expression of HIF-1α known as a cancer cellmetastasis factor and VEGF known as a cancer cell invasion factor andalso has an effect of inhibiting the activity of a factor inducingangiogenesis. Then, actual effects of calcium lactate on metastasis andinvasion of a cancer cell were examined by analyzing migration of thecancer cell.

Example 8-1: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Metastasis and Invasion ofColorectal Cancer Cell Line

A colorectal cancer cell line HCT-116 with the cell number of 4×10⁵cells was inoculated into a culture container at the center of which anibidi culture insert having a thickness of 500 μm was placed, andtreated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and then cultured for 24 hours.Then, the insert was removed and further cultured for 12 hours toanalyze migration of the cancer cells to a site where the insert wasremoved using a JuLi Br, Live cell analyzer (NanoEnTek Inc., SouthKorea) (FIG. 18). In this case, a colorectal cancer cell line culturedwithout treating with calcium lactate was used as a control group.

FIG. 18 provides photos showing the result confirming cell migration,which shows metastatic capacity of a colorectal cancer cell line,depending on whether or not treated with calcium lactate. As can be seenfrom FIG. 18, it was confirmed that in the colorectal cancer cell linetreated with calcium lactate, cell migration is decreased, whereas inthe colorectal cancer cell line of the control group untreated withcalcium lactate, cell migration is maintained.

Example 8-2: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Metastasis and Invasion ofBreast Cancer Cell Line

Using the same method as Example 8-1, with breast cancer cell lines(MCF-7 and MDA-MB231) instead of the colorectal cancer cell line, aneffect of calcium lactate on migration of the breast cancer cell lineswas examined (FIG. 19).

FIG. 19 provides photos showing the result of confirming cell migration,which shows metastatic capacity of a breast cancer cell line, dependingon whether or not treated with calcium lactate. As can be seen from FIG.19, it was confirmed that as compared with the breast cancer cell linesof the control groups untreated with calcium lactate, the breast cancercell lines treated with calcium lactate show relatively low levels ofmetastasis.

Example 8-3: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Metastasis and Invasion ofMelanoma Cell Line

Using the same method as Example 8-1, with melanoma cell lines (SKMEL-02and SKMEL-28) instead of the colorectal cancer cell line and furthercultured for 24 hours after removal of the insert was performed, theeffect of calcium lactate on migration of the melanoma cell lines wasexamined (FIG. 20).

FIG. 20 provides photos showing the result confirming cell migration,which shows metastatic capacity of a melanoma cell line, depending onwhether or not treated with calcium lactate. As can be seen from FIG.20, it was confirmed that as compared with the melanoma cell lines ofthe control groups untreated with calcium lactate, the melanoma celllines treated with calcium lactate show relatively low levels ofmetastasis.

Summing up the results of Examples 8-1 to 8-3, it can be seen thatcalcium lactate can inhibit metastasis of all cancer cells such ascolorectal cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma cells.

Example 9: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Viability of Cancer Cell Line

The effect of calcium lactate on viability of breast cancer cell lines,colorectal cancer cell lines, and melanoma cell lines were examined.

Example 9-1: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Viability of Breast CancerCell Line

Breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB231) were cultured for 24hours with or without treating with 2.5 mM calcium lactate. Each of thebreast cancer cell lines were treated with 5 μl of FITC Annexin V and 5μl of PI and reacted at room temperature for 15 minutes and then, a flowcytometry analysis was conducted thereto using a FACS Calibur (BDBioscience, USA) to evaluate staining thereof and thus measure a cancercell apoptosis rate (FIG. 21a-21f ).

FIGS. 21a and 21d provide photos showing the result of confirming cellmigration, which shows metastatic capacity of a breast cancer cell linedepending on whether or not treated with calcium lactate for MCF-7 cellline and MDA-MB231 cell line, respectively. FIGS. 21b, 21c, 21e and 21fprovide the result of a flow cytometry analysis showing changes insurvival rate. As can be seen from FIGS. 21b and 21c , it was confirmedthat the MCF-7 cell line shows a cell apoptosis rate of 9.63% beforetreating with calcium lactate but shows a cell apoptosis rate of 33.8%after treating with calcium lactate, and the MDA-MB231 cell line (FIG.21e and 21f ) shows a cell apoptosis rate of 10.17% before the treatingwith calcium lactate but shows a cell apoptosis rate of 13.05% aftertreating with calcium lactate.

Therefore, it can be seen that if the breast cancer cell lines aretreated with calcium lactate, a cell apoptosis rate is increased.

Example 9-2: Effect of Calcium Lactate on the Conformational Change ofColorectal Cancer Stem Cell Line

A human colorectal cancer stem cell line was inoculated into a stem cellculture medium (medium including 1% penicillin/streptomycin and 50 timesB27 and including a DMEM medium and an F12 medium mixed at 1:1) andcultured at 37° C. with 5% CO₂. The cultured colorectal cancer stem cellline was treated with calcium lactate and then, it was checked whetheror not there is the conformational change of a sphere formed by the stemcells (FIG. 22). In this case, a cancer cell treated with DMSO insteadof calcium lactate was used as a control group.

FIG. 22 provides microscopic images showing the conformational change ofa sphere depending on the treatment of a colorectal cancer stem cellline constituting the sphere with calcium lactate. As can be seen fromFIG. 22, it was confirmed that in the control group which was nottreated with calcium lactate a sphere is maintained but after treatingwith calcium lactate, the conformation of the sphere is destructed,thereby confirming the reduced the viability of the colorectal cancerstem cells.

Example 9-3: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Colony-Forming Ability ofCancer Cell Line

Firstly, human colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116, HT-29, and DLD-1)were inoculated into solid mediums including various concentrations (0mM, 0.5 mM, 1.5 mM, or 2.5 mM) of calcium lactate and cultured for 10days. After the completion of the culture, the cells were immobilizedand stained with hematoxylin. Then, the number of cancer cells formedinto colonies was counted (FIG. 23).

FIG. 23 provides photos and graphs (left: HCT-116, middle: HT-29, right:DLD-1) showing the result comparing the colony-forming ability ofcolorectal cancer cell lines depending on treating with calcium lactate.As can be seen from FIG. 23, it was confirmed that all the colorectalcancer cell lines untreated with calcium lactate form 260 to 360colonies but the number of colonies decreased as the concentration ofcalcium lactate increased, and in the case of treating the colorectalcancer cell lines with 2.5 mM calcium lactate, only 100 to 120 coloniesare formed.

Then, using the same method as described above, human melanoma celllines (SKMEL-02 and SKMEL-28) were inoculated into solid mediumsincluding various concentrations (1 mM, 2.5 mM, or 5 mM) of calciumlactate and culture was performed, and the number of cancer cells formedinto colonies were counted (FIGS. 24a and 24b ).

FIGS. 24a and 24b provides graphs and tables showing the resultcomparing the colony-forming ability of melanoma cell lines depending ontreating with calcium lactate. As can be seen from FIGS. 24a and 24b ,it was confirmed that the human melanoma cell lines untreated withcalcium lactate form 105 to 168 colonies but the number of coloniesdecreased as the concentration of calcium lactate increased, and in thecase of treating the SKMEL-28 cell line with 5 mM calcium lactate,colony was not formed and in the case of treating the SKMEL-02 cell linewith 5 mM calcium lactate, about 49 colonies are formed.

Summing up the result, it can be seen that calcium lactate has an effectof inhibiting the colony-forming ability of colorectal cancer andmelanoma cell lines.

Example 9-4: Effect of Combination of Calcium Lactate with MaterialHaving Anticancer Activity on Viability of Cancer Cell Line

Semi drug agarose based plate including 5 mM calcium lactate or thematerials known as having an anticancer activity (1 mM IS (5-indanesulfonamide) or 5 mM CA (cinnamic acid)) individually or in combinationwere prepared. Then, a human colorectal cancer cell line HCT-116 wasinoculated into each of the prepared plate and cultured for 10 days.Then, survival rates of the cells were compared (FIGS. 25a & 25 b).

FIGS. 25a and 25b provides graphs showing the result of comparing thesurvival rate of colorectal cancer cell lines treated individually or incombination with calcium lactate, 5-indane sulfornamide (IS) as aninhibitor of carbonic anhydrase or cinnamic acid (CA) as an inhibitor ofMCT-4 which is a pathway of lactate outflow. As can be seen from FIGS.25a and 25b , it was confirmed that the survival rates of the colorectalcancer cell line treated with the calcium lactate or the materials knownas having an anticancer activity (IS or CA) individually were decreasedto about 60% and the survival rates of the colorectal cancer cell linetreated with the calcium lactate in combination with IS or CA or bothwere further decreased to about 10% to 30%.

Example 9-5: Effect of Calcium Lactate on Viability of Cancer Cell Linewith Decreased Cell Adhesivity

Human colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116, HT-29, and DLD-1) wereinoculated into a 6-well plate with low adhesivity and then culturedtreating with various concentrations (0 mM, 1.5 mM, or 2.5 mM) ofcalcium lactate. Then, survival rates of the cells were compared (FIG.26).

FIG. 26 provides graphs showing the result comparing the effects ofcalcium lactate on a survival rate of colorectal cancer cell linescultured in a culture container with low adhesivity. As can be seen fromFIG. 26, it was confirmed that if the colorectal cancer cell linescultured in a culture medium with low adhesivity are not treated withcalcium lactate, the cell apoptosis rate is very low (about 5%), but ifthey are treated with calcium lactate, the cell apoptosis rate issharply increased (about 90%).

Summing up the results of Examples 9-1 to 9-5, it can be seen thatcalcium lactate can decrease the survival rates of all cancer cells suchas colorectal cancer and melanoma cells.

Example 10: Verification of Effect of Calcium Lactate Using Animal ModelExample 10-1: Setting of Experimental Group Using Animal Model

A colorectal cancer cell (HT-29) cultured in an RPMI1640 medium and thendiluted with PBS was subcutaneously implanted into the flank of Balb/cmice. The mice were bred until the colorectal cancer cell grew to about5 mm. Then, four groups were set up; a control group untreated withcalcium lactate for 30 days, an experimental group 1 (peroral, P.O.)administered with 2.5 mM calcium lactate by oral administration, anexperimental group 2 (intra tumor, I.T) injected with 2.5 mM calciumlactate around tumor, and an experimental group 3 (subcutaneous, S.C)subcutaneously injected with 25 mM calcium lactate (FIG. 27).

FIG. 27 is a schematic illustration of experimental scheme for calciumlactate treatment using animal models.

Example 10-2: Change in Expression Levels of PARP

Colorectal cancer tissues were extracted from the mice of the controlgroup, the experimental group 1, or the experimental group 2 set up inExample 10-1, and expression levels of PARP and truncated PARPcontributing to stabilization of cancer cells expressed therein werecompared (FIG. 28).

FIG. 28 is a picture showing the change in expression levels of PARP theproteins extracted from the tumor tissue of the xenograft animal modeldepending on treatment method of calcium lactate, and whether or nottreated with calcium lactate. As can be seen from FIG. 28, it wasconfirmed that in the experimental groups treated with calcium lactatein different manners as compared with the control group untreated withcalcium lactate, PARP degrading activity is increased.

Example 10-3: Change in Expression Levels of HIF-1α and VEGF in AnimalModel Administered with Calcium Lactate by Oral Administration

Colorectal cancer tissues were extracted from the mice of the controlgroup or the experimental group 1 set up in Example 10-1, and expressionlevels of HIF-1α and VEGF involved in metastasis, invasion, andangiogenesis of tumor expressed therein were compared (FIG. 29). In thiscase, GAPDH was used as internal control groups.

FIG. 29 provides photos showing the change in expression levels ofHIF-1α or GAPDH depending on whether or not treated with calciumlactate, in proteins extracted from tumor tissues of the animal modelsin which calcium lactate was orally administered. As can be seen fromFIG. 29, it was confirmed that the expression of the HIF-1α and the VEGFis inhibited in the experimental group 1 treated with calcium lactate ascompared with the control group untreated with calcium lactate.

Example 10-4: Change in the Tumor Size in Animal Model Administered withCalcium Lactate by Oral Administration

The volumes of colorectal cancer tissues extracted from the mice of thecontrol group or the experimental group 1 set up in Example 10-1 weremeasured over time and compared with each other (FIG. 30).

FIG. 30 is a graph showing the change in tumor volume depending onwhether or not treated with calcium lactate in an animal model in whichwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate was orally administrated. As can be seenfrom FIG. 30, the final tumor volume of the control group untreated withcalcium lactate is about 1200 mm³×10³, whereas that of the experimentalgroup 1 treated with calcium lactate is about 480 mm³×10³. Therefore, itcan be seen that calcium lactate has an effect of inhibiting the growthof tumor.

Example 10-5: Change in Expression Levels of HIF-1 a and VEGF in AnimalModels Injected with Calcium Lactate

Colorectal cancer tissues were extracted from the mice of the controlgroup or the experimental group 2 set up in Example 10-1, and expressionlevels of HIF-1α and VEGF involved in metastasis, invasion, andangiogenesis of tumor therein were compared (FIG. 31). In this case,GAPDH was used as internal control groups.

FIG. 31 provides western blots showing the change in the expressionlevels of HIF-1α or GAPDH in the protein extracted from tumor tissues ofthe xenograft animal model depending on whether or not treated withcalcium lactate around the tumor. As can be seen from FIG. 31, it wasconfirmed that in the experimental group 2 treated with calcium lactateas compared with the control group untreated with calcium lactate,expression of the HIF-1α and the VEGF is inhibited.

Example 10-6: Change in Tumor Size in Animal Model Injected with CalciumLactate

The volumes of colorectal cancer tissues extracted from the mice of thecontrol group or the experimental group 2 set up in Example 10-1 weremeasured over time and compared with each other (FIG. 32).

FIG. 32 provides a graph showing the change in tumor volume depending onwhether or not treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate around a tumor. Ascan be seen from FIG. 32, it was confirmed that the final tumor volumeof the control group untreated with calcium lactate is about 1200mm³×10³, whereas that of the experimental group 2 treated with calciumlactate is about 490 mm³×10³. Therefore, it can be seen that calciumlactate has an effect of inhibiting the growth of tumor.

Example 10-7: Change in Tumor Morphology of Animal Model Depending onTreatment with Calcium Lactate

The tumor morphologies of the mice of the control group or theexperimental group 2 set up in Example 10-1 were compared with eachother (FIG. 33).

FIG. 33 provides photos showing the change in tumor morphology of ananimal model depending on the injection of 2.5 mM calcium lactate aroundtumor. As can be seen from FIG. 33, it was confirmed that the tumorphotographed from the control group untreated with calcium lactate has alarge size with increased angiogenesis in its surface, whereas the tumorphotographed from the experimental group is decreased in size withdecreased angiogenesis.

Example 10-8: Change in Tumor Size in Animal Model SubcutaneouslyInjected with Calcium Lactate

The volumes of colorectal cancer tissues extracted from the mice of thecontrol group or the experimental group 3 set up in Example 10-1 weremeasured over time and compared with each other (FIG. 34).

FIG. 34 is a graph showing the change in tumor volume depending onwhether or not treated with calcium lactate in an animal model in which25 mM calcium lactate was subcutaneously injected around the nape. Ascan be seen from FIG. 34, it was confirmed that the final tumor volumeof the control group untreated with calcium lactate is about 2300 mm³,whereas that of the experimental group 3 treated with calcium lactate isabout 80 mm³. Therefore, it can be seen that 25 mM calcium lactate hasan effect of inhibiting the growth of tumor.

Example 10-9: Change in Tumor Morphology of Animal Model Depending onTreatment with Calcium Lactate

The tumor morphologies of the mice of the control group or theexperimental group 3 set up in Example 10-1 were compared with eachother (FIG. 35).

FIG. 35 provides photos showing the change in tumor morphology in ananimal model depending on the treatment with 25 mM calcium lactate. Ascan be seen from FIG. 35, it was confirmed that the tumor photographedfrom the control group untreated with 25 mM calcium lactate has largersize with increased angiogenesis in its surface, whereas the tumorphotographed from the experimental group 3 is greatly decreased in sizeand angiogenesis is also reduced. Therefore, summing up the results ofExamples 10-1 to 10-9, calcium lactate with a concentration of 2.5 mM to25 mM showed an excellent anticancer activity in an animal model.

Example 11: Effect of Treating Colorectal Cancer by Radiation inCombination with Administration of Calcium Lactate

In Examples 10-2, 10-3, and 10-5, it was confirmed that expression ofPARP, HIF-1α and VEGF is decreased by treating with calcium lactate.Herein, these factors give a resistance to radiation. Thus, if thefactors are decreased due to calcium lactate, the efficiency ofradiation can be increase, which was verified.

Example 11-1: Setting of Experimental Groups Using Animal Model

A colorectal cancer cell (HT-29 or HCT-116) was subcutaneously implantedinto the flank of mice. The mice were bred until the colorectal cancercell grew to about 5 mm. Then, four groups were set up; a control groupuntreated with calcium lactate for 30 days, an experimental group 11(intra tumor, I.T) injected with 2.5 mM calcium lactate, an experimentalgroup 12 (IR) irradiated with radiation of 2 Gy five times using anX-RAD 320 X-ray irradiator (300 kVp) equipped with a 2.0 mm aluminumfilter, and an experimental group 13 (CaLa+IR) irradiated with radiationof 2 Gy five times and injected with 2.5 mM calcium lactate at the sametime (FIG. 36).

FIG. 36 is a schematic illustration of experimental scheme for thetreatment with radiation and calcium lactate using animal models.

Example 11-2: Change in Tumor Size in Animal Model Treated withRadiation in Combination with Calcium Lactate

The volumes of colorectal cancer tissues extracted from the mice of thecontrol group or each of the experimental groups set up in Example 11-1were measured over time and compared with each other (FIGS. 37a and 37b).

FIG. 37a provides a graph showing the change in tumor volume over timein an animal cancer model, which was prepared by implanting HT-29colorectal cancer cell line into the flank depending on whether treatedwith radiation and calcium lactate individually or in combination, andFIG. 37b provides a graph showing the change in tumor volume over timein an animal cancer model, which was prepared by implanting a HCT-116colorectal cancer cell line into the flank depending on whether treatedwith radiation and calcium lactate individually or in combination.

As can be seen from FIGS. 37a and 37b , it was confirmed that in theexperimental groups treated with radiation and calcium lactateindividually or in combination as compared with the control groupuntreated with radiation and calcium lactate, the growth of tumor isinhibited regardless of the type of colorectal cancer cell lineimplanted and particularly in the experimental group 13 treated withradiation in combination with calcium lactate, the growth of tumor isinhibited to the lowest level.

This result verified that the treatment with calcium lactate can inhibitexpression of factors that give resistance to radiation, and wasanalyzed that in case of the treatment with calcium lactate incombination with radiation, the efficiency of anticancer treatment canbe improved even with a smaller dose of radiation.

Therefore, calcium lactate may be used alone for treating cancer.However, it can be seen that if calcium lactate is administered incombination with irradiation of radiation, an enhanced effect ofanticancer treatment can be obtained.

Example 12: Treatment with Well-Known Anticancer Drug in Combinationwith Calcium Lactate

Through Example 9-4, it was confirmed that the treatment with calciumlactate in combination with a material showing an anticancer activitydecreases the viability of a cancer cell as compared with the treatmentwith calcium lactate or the material alone. On the basis of the result,a treatment effect of a well-known anticancer drug in combination withcalcium lactate on various cancer cell lines was verified.

Example 12-1: Treatment with Imatinib in combination with calciumlactate

Human colorectal cancer cell lines (HT-29 and HCT-116) with the cellnumber of 1×10³ cells were seeded into an RPMI1640 medium in each of6-well plates. After one day, the medium was replaced with fresh mediumand the cells were treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate or 1 μM, 2.5 μM,and 5 μM Imatinib alone or treated with various concentrations (1 μM,2.5 μM, and 5 μM) of Imatinib in combination with 2.5 mM calciumlactate. Then, the colony-forming abilities of the cells were compared.In this case, human colorectal cancer cell lines (HT-29 and HCT-116)untreated with any drug were used as control groups (FIGS. 38a, 38b, 39aand 39b ).

FIG. 38a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treatedwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Imatinib, aloneor in combination. FIG. 38b shows the result of comparing thesuppression of the formation of individual colony when a humancolorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treated with 2.5 mM calciumlactate and 1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Imatinib, alone or in combination.

FIG. 39a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human colorectal cancer cell line (HCT-116) was treatedwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Imatinib, aloneor in combination. FIG. 39b shows the result of comparing thesuppression of the formation of individual colony when a humancolorectal cancer cell line (HCT-116) was treated with 2.5 mM calciumlactate and 1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Imatinib, alone or in combination. Ascan be seen from FIGS. 38a, 38b, 39a and 39b , it was confirmed that thecolony-forming ability of the cancer cells is suppressed in the grouptreated with calcium lactate alone and the groups treated with lowconcentrations (1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM) of Imatinib alone as comparedwith the control group, and the colony-forming ability is furthersuppressed in the groups treated with Imatinib and calcium lactate incombination as compared with the groups treated with Imatinib alone.

Example 12-2: Treatment with 5-FU (5-Fluorourasil) in Combination withCalcium Lactate

Human colorectal cancer cell lines (HT-29 and HCT-116) with the cellnumber of 1×10³ cells were seeded into an RPMI1640 medium in each of6-well plates. After one day, the medium was replaced with fresh mediumand the cells were treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate or 2.5 μM, 5 μM,and 10 μM 5-FU alone or treated with various concentrations (2.5 μM, 5μM, and 10 μM) of 5-FU in combination with 2.5 mM calcium lactate. Then,the colony-forming abilities of the cells were compared. In this case,human colorectal cancer cell lines (HT-29 and HCT-116) untreated withany drug were used as control groups (FIGS. 40a , 40 b, 41 a and 41 b).

FIG. 40a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treatedwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 2.5 μM, 5 μM, and 10 μM 5-FU, alone orin combination. FIG. 40b shows the result of comparing the suppressionof the formation of individual colony when a human colorectal cancercell line (HT-29) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 2.5 μM, 5μM, and 1 μM 5-FU, alone or in combination. FIG. 41a shows the result ofcomparing the decrease in the number of colonies when a human colorectalcancer cell line (HCT-116) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and2.5 μM, 5 μM, and 10 μM 5-FU, alone or in combination. FIG. 41b showsthe result of comparing the suppression of the formation of individualcolony when a human colorectal cancer cell line (HCT-116) was treatedwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 2.5 μM, 5 μM, and 10 μM 5-FU, alone orin combination. As can be seen from FIGS. 40a, 40b, 41a and 41b , it wasconfirmed that the colony-forming ability of the cancer cells issuppressed, in the group treated with calcium lactate alone and thegroups treated with low concentrations (2.5 μM, 5 μM, and 10 μM) of 5-FUalone as compared with the control group, and the colony-forming abilityis further suppressed, in the groups treated with 5-FU and calciumlactate in combination as compared with the groups treated with 5-FUalone.

Example 12-3: Treatment with Paclitaxel in Combination with CalciumLactate

Human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and a human lung cancer cell line(A549) with the cell number of 1×10³ cells were seeded into an RPMI1640medium in each of 6-well plates. After one day, the medium was replacedwith fresh medium and the cells were treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactateor 0.63 nM, 1.3 nM, and 2.5 nM Paclitaxel alone or treated with variousconcentrations (0.63 nM, 1.3 nM, and 2.5 nM) of Paclitaxel incombination with 2.5 mM calcium lactate. Then, the colony-formingabilities of the cells were compared. In this case, a human breastcancer cell line (MCF-7) and a human lung cancer cell line (A549)untreated with any drug were used as control groups (FIGS. 42a, 42b, 43aand 43b ).

FIG. 42a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was treated with2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.63 nM, 1.3 nM, and 2.5 nM Paclitaxel, aloneor in combination. FIG. 42b shows the result of comparing thesuppression of the formation of individual colony when a human breastcancer cell line (MCF-7) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and0.63 nM, 1.3 nM, and 2.5 nM Paclitaxel, alone or in combination. As canbe seen from FIGS. 42a and 42b , it was confirmed that in the grouptreated with calcium lactate alone and the groups treated with lowconcentrations (0.63 nM, 1.3 nM, and 2.5 nM) of Paclitaxel alone ascompared with the control group, the colony-forming ability of thecancer cells is suppressed, and in the groups treated with Paclitaxeland calcium lactate in combination as compared with the groups treatedwith Paclitaxel alone, the colony-forming ability is further suppressed.

FIG. 43a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human lung cancer cell line (A549) was treated with 2.5mM calcium lactate and 0.63 nM, 1.3 nM, and 2.5 nM Paclitaxel, alone orin combination. FIG. 43b shows the result of comparing the suppressionof the formation of individual colony when a human lung cancer cell line(A549) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.63 nM, 1.3 nM, and2.5 nM Paclitaxel, alone or in combination. As can be seen from FIGS.43a and 43b , it was confirmed that the colony-forming ability of thecancer cells is suppressed, in the group treated with calcium lactatealone and the groups treated with low concentrations (0.63 nM, 1.3 nM,and 2.5 nM) of Paclitaxel alone as compared with the control group, andthe colony-forming ability is further suppressed, in the groups treatedwith Paclitaxel and calcium lactate in combination as compared with thegroups treated with Paclitaxel alone.

Example 12-4: Treatment with Gefitinib in Combination with CalciumLactate

Human lung cancer cell line (A549) with the cell number of 1×10³ cellswere seeded into an RPMI1640 medium in each of 6-well plates. After oneday, the medium was replaced with fresh medium and the cells weretreated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate or 1.3 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μMGefitinib alone or treated with various concentrations (1.3 μM, 2.5 μM,and 5 μM) of Gefitinib in combination with 2.5 mM calcium lactate. Then,the colony-forming abilities of the cells were compared. In this case, ahuman lung cancer cell line (A549) untreated with any drug was used as acontrol group (FIGS. 44a and 44b ).

FIG. 44a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human lung cancer cell line (A549) was treated with 2.5mM calcium lactate and 1.3 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Gefitinib, alone or incombination. FIG. 44b shows the result of comparing the suppression ofthe formation of individual colony when a human lung cancer cell line(A549) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 1.3 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5μM Gefitinib, alone or in combination. As can be seen from FIGS. 44a and44b , it was confirmed that the colony-forming ability of the cancercells is suppressed, in the group treated with calcium lactate alone andthe groups treated with low concentrations (1.3 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM) ofGefitinib alone as compared with the control group, and thecolony-forming ability is further suppressed, in the groups treated withGefitinib and calcium lactate in combination as compared with the groupstreated with Gefitinib alone.

Example 12-5: Treatment with Sorafenib in Combination with CalciumLactate

Human liver cancer cell line (Hep3B) with the cell number of 1×10³ cellswere seeded into an RPMI1640 medium in each of 6-well plates. After oneday, the medium was replaced with fresh medium and the cells weretreated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate or 1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Sorafenibalone or treated with various concentrations (1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM) ofSorafenib in combination with 2.5 mM calcium lactate. Then, thecolony-forming abilities of the cells were compared. In this case, ahuman liver cancer cell line (Hep3B) untreated with any drug was used asa control group (FIGS. 45a and 45b ).

FIG. 45a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Hep3B) wastreated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μMSorafenib, alone or in combination. FIG. 45b shows the result ofcomparing the suppression of the formation of individual colony when ahuman hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Hep3B) was treated with 2.5 mMcalcium lactate and 1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Sorafenib, alone or incombination. As can be seen from FIGS. 45a and 45b , it was confirmedthat the colony-forming ability of the cancer cells is suppressed, inthe group treated with calcium lactate alone and the groups treated withlow concentrations (1 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM) of Sorafenib alone ascompared with the control group, and the colony-forming ability isfurther suppressed, the groups treated with Sorafenib and calciumlactate in combination as compared with the groups treated withSorafenib alone.

Example 12-6: Treatment with Irinotecan in Combination with CalciumLactate

Human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) with the cell number of 1×10³cells were seeded into an RPMI1640 medium in each of 6-well plates.After one day, the medium was replaced with fresh medium and the cellswere treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate or 0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μMIrinotecan alone or treated with various concentrations (0.5 μM, 1 μM,and 2 μM) of Irinotecan in combination with 2.5 mM calcium lactate.Then, the colony-forming abilities of the cells were compared. In thiscase, a human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) untreated with anydrug was used as a control group (FIGS. 46a and 46b ).

FIG. 46a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treatedwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μM Irinotecan, aloneor in combination. FIG. 46b shows the result of comparing thesuppression of the formation of individual colony when a humancolorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treated with 2.5 mM calciumlactate and 0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μM Irinotecan, alone or in combination.As can be seen from FIGS. 46a and 46b , it was confirmed that thecolony-forming ability of the cancer cells is suppressed, in the grouptreated with calcium lactate alone and the groups treated with lowconcentrations (0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μM) of Irinotecan alone as comparedwith the control group, and the colony-forming ability is furthersuppressed, in the groups treated with Irinotecan and calcium lactate incombination as compared with the groups treated with Irinotecan alone.

Example 12-7: Treatment with Erlotinib in Combination with CalciumLactate

Human lung cancer cell line (A549) with the cell number of 1×10³ cellswere seeded into an RPMI1640 medium in each of 6-well plates. After oneday, the medium was replaced with fresh medium and the cells weretreated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate or 0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μM Erlotinibalone or treated with various concentrations (0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μM) ofErlotinib in combination with 2.5 mM calcium lactate. Then, thecolony-forming abilities of the cells were compared. In this case, ahuman lung cancer cell line (A549) untreated with any drug was used as acontrol group (FIGS. 47a and 47b ).

FIG. 47a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human lung cancer cell line (A549) was treated with 2.5mM calcium lactate and 0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μM Erlotinib, alone or incombination. FIG. 47b shows the result of comparing the suppression ofthe formation of individual colony when a human lung cancer cell line(A549) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.5 μM, 4 μM, and 2μM Erlotinib, alone or in combination. As can be seen from FIGS. 47a and47b , it was confirmed that the colony-forming ability of the cancercells is suppressed, in the group treated with calcium lactate alone andthe groups treated with low concentrations (0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μM) ofErlotinib alone as compared with the control group, and thecolony-forming ability is further suppressed, in the groups treated withErlotinib and calcium lactate in combination as compared with the groupstreated with Erlotinib alone.

Example 12-8: Treatment with Sunitinib in Combination with CalciumLactate

Human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) with the cell number of 1×10³cells were seeded into an RPMI1640 medium in each of 6-well plates.After one day, the medium was replaced with fresh medium and the cellswere treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate or 0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μMSunitinib alone or treated with various concentrations (0.5 μM, 1 μM,and 2 μM) of Sunitinib in combination with 2.5 mM calcium lactate. Then,the colony-forming abilities of the cells were compared. In this case, ahuman colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) untreated with any drug wasused as a control group (FIGS. 48a and 48b ).

FIG. 48a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treatedwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μM Sunitinib, aloneor in combination. FIG. 48b shows the result of comparing thesuppression of the formation of individual colony when a humancolorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treated with 2.5 mM calciumlactate and 0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μM Sunitinib, alone or in combination.As can be seen from FIGS. 48a and 48b , it was confirmed that thecolony-forming ability of the cancer cells is suppressed, in the grouptreated with calcium lactate alone and the groups treated with lowconcentrations (0.5 μM, 1 μM, and 2 μM) of Sunitinib alone as comparedwith the control group, and the colony-forming ability is furthersuppressed, in the groups treated with Sunitinib and calcium lactate incombination as compared with the groups treated with Sunitinib alone.

Example 12-9: Treatment with Methotrexate in Combination with CalciumLactate

Human lung cancer cell line (A549) with the cell number of 1×10³ cellswere seeded into an RPMI1640 medium in each of 6-well plates. After oneday, the medium was replaced with fresh medium and the cells weretreated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate or 5 nM, 10 nM, and 20 nMMethotrexate alone or treated with various concentrations (5 nM, 10 nM,and 20 nM) of Methotrexate in combination with 2.5 mM calcium lactate.Then, the colony-forming abilities of the cells were compared. In thiscase, a human lung cancer cell line (A549) untreated with any drug wasused as a control group (FIGS. 49a and 49b ).

FIG. 49a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human lung cancer cell line (A549) was treated with 2.5mM calcium lactate and 5 nM, 10 nM, and 20 nM Methotrexate, alone or incombination. FIG. 49b shows the result of comparing the suppression ofthe formation of individual colony when a human lung cancer cell line(A549) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 5 nM, 10 nM, and 20nM Methotrexate, alone or in combination. As can be seen from FIGS. 49aand 49b , it was confirmed that the colony-forming ability of the cancercells is suppressed, in the group treated with calcium lactate alone andthe groups treated with low concentrations (5 nM, 10 nM, and 20 nM) ofMethotrexate alone as compared with the control group, and thecolony-forming ability is further suppressed, in the groups treated withMethotrexate and calcium lactate in combination as compared with thegroups treated with Methotrexate alone.

Example 12-10: Treatment with Carboplatin in Combination with CalciumLactate

Human lung cancer cell line (A549) with the cell number of 1×10³ cellswere seeded into an RPMI1640 medium in each of 6-well plates. After oneday, the medium was replaced with fresh medium and the cells weretreated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate or 2.5 μM, 5 μM, and 10 μMCarboplatin alone or treated with various concentrations (2.5 μM, 5 μM,and 10 μM) of Carboplatin in combination with 2.5 mM calcium lactate.Then, the colony-forming abilities of the cells were compared. In thiscase, a human lung cancer cell line (A549) untreated with any drug wasused as a control group (FIGS. 50a and 50b ).

FIG. 50a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human lung cancer cell line (A549) was treated with 2.5mM calcium lactate and 2.5 μM, 5 μM, and 10 μM Carboplatin, alone or incombination. FIG. 50b shows the result of comparing the suppression ofthe formation of individual colony when a human lung cancer cell line(A549) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 2.5 μM, 5 μM, and 10μM Carboplatin, alone or in combination. As can be seen from FIGS. 50aand 50b , it was confirmed that the colony-forming ability of the cancercells is suppressed, in the group treated with calcium lactate alone andthe groups treated with low concentrations (2.5 μM, 5 μM, and 10 μM) ofCarboplatin alone as compared with the control group, and thecolony-forming ability is further suppressed, in the groups treated withCarboplatin and calcium lactate in combination as compared with thegroups treated with Carboplatin alone.

Example 12-11: Treatment with Docetaxel in Combination with CalciumLactate

Human lung cancer cell line (A549) with the cell number of 1×10³ cellswere seeded into an RPMI1640 medium in each of 6-well plates. After oneday, the medium was replaced with fresh medium and the cells weretreated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate or 0.6 nM, 1.3 nM, and 2.5 nMDocetaxel alone or treated with various concentrations (0.6 nM, 1.3 nM,and 2.5 nM) of Docetaxel in combination with 2.5 mM calcium lactate.Then, the colony-forming abilities of the cells were compared. In thiscase, a human lung cancer cell line (A549) untreated with any drug wasused as a control group (FIGS. 51a and 51b ).

FIG. 51a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human lung cancer cell line (A549) was treated with 2.5mM calcium lactate and 0.6 nM, 1.3 nM, and 2.5 nM Docetaxel, alone or incombination. FIG. 51b shows the result of comparing the suppression ofthe formation of individual colony when a human lung cancer cell line(A549) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.6 nM, 1.3 nM, and2.5 nM Docetaxel, alone or in combination. As can be seen from FIGS. 51aand 51b , it was confirmed that the colony-forming ability of the cancercells is suppressed, in the group treated with calcium lactate alone andthe groups treated with low concentrations (0.6 nM, 1.3 nM, and 2.5 nM)of Docetaxel alone as compared with the control group, and thecolony-forming ability is further suppressed in the groups treated withDocetaxel and calcium lactate in combination as compared with the groupstreated with Docetaxel alone.

Example 12-12: Treatment with Lapatinib in Combination with CalciumLactate

Human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) with the cell number of 1×10³cells were seeded into an RPMI1640 medium in each of 6-well plates.After one day, the medium was replaced with fresh medium and the cellswere treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate or 2 μM, 4 μM, and 8 μMLapatinib alone or treated with various concentrations (2 μM, 4 μM, and8 μM) of Lapatinib in combination with 2.5 mM calcium lactate. Then, thecolony-forming abilities of the cells were compared. In this case, ahuman breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) untreated with any drug was usedas a control group (FIGS. 52a and 52b ).

FIG. 52a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was treated with2.5 mM calcium lactate and 2 μM, 4 μM, and 8 μM Lapatinib, alone or incombination. FIG. 52b shows the result of comparing the suppression ofthe formation of individual colony when a human breast cancer cell line(MCF-7) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 2 μM, 4 μM, and 8 μMLapatinib, alone or in combination. As can be seen from FIGS. 52a and52b , it was confirmed that the colony-forming ability of the cancercells is suppressed, in the group treated with calcium lactate alone andthe groups treated with low concentrations (2 μM, 4 μM, and 8 μM) ofLapatinib alone as compared with the control group, and thecolony-forming ability is further suppressed, in the groups treated withLapatinib and calcium lactate in combination as compared with the groupstreated with Lapatinib alone.

Example 12-13: Treatment with Everolimus in Combination with CalciumLactate

Human kidney cancer cell line (Caki-1) with the cell number of 1×10³cells were seeded into an RPMI1640 medium in each of 6-well plates.After one day, the medium was replaced with fresh medium and the cellswere treated with 0.3 nM, 0.5 nM, and 1 nM Everolimus alone or treatedwith various concentrations (0.3 nM, 0.5 nM, and 1 nM) of Everolimus incombination with 2.5 mM calcium lactate. Then, the colony-formingabilities of the cells were compared. In this case, a human kidneycancer cell line (Caki-1) untreated with any drug was used as a controlgroup (FIGS. 53a and 53b ).

FIG. 53a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human kidney cancer cell line (Caki-1) was treated with2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.3 nM, 0.5 nM, and 1 nM Everolimus, alone orin combination. FIG. 53b shows the result of comparing the suppressionof the formation of individual colony when a human kidney cancer cellline (Caki-1) was treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.3 nM, 0.5nM, and 1 nM Everolimus, alone or in combination. As can be seen fromFIGS. 53a and 53b , it was confirmed that the colony-forming ability ofthe cancer cells is suppressed, in the group treated with calciumlactate alone and the groups treated with low concentrations (0.3 nM,0.5 nM, and 1 nM) of Everolimus alone as compared with the controlgroup, and the colony-forming ability is further suppressed in the grouptreated with Everolimus and calcium lactate in combination as comparedwith the groups treated with Everolimus alone.

Example 12-14: Treatment with Trastuzumab (Herceptin) in Combinationwith Calcium Lactate

Human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) with the cell number of 1×10³cells showing a resistance to an anticancer drug Trastuzumab were seededinto an RPMI1640 medium (including 1% fetal bovine serum+500 ng/μlepithelial growth factor) in each of the 6-well plates. After one day,the medium was replaced with fresh medium and the cells were treatedwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate or 0.23 μg/ml, 0.45 μg/ml, and 1.8 μg/mlTrastuzumab alone or treated with various concentrations (0.23 μg/ml,0.45 μg/ml, and 1.8 μg/ml) of Trastuzumab in combination with 2.5 mMcalcium lactate. Then, the colony-forming abilities of the cells werecompared. In this case, a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7)untreated with any drug was used as a control group (FIGS. 54a and 54b).

FIG. 54a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was treated with2.5 mM calcium lactate and 0.23 μg/ml, 0.45 μg/ml, and 1.8 μg/mlTrastuzumab, alone or in combination. FIG. 54b shows the result ofcomparing the suppression of the formation of individual colony when ahuman breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was treated with 2.5 mM calciumlactate and 0.23 μg/ml, 0.45 μg/ml, and 1.8 μg/ml Trastuzumab, alone orin combination. As can be seen from FIGS. 54a and 54b , it was confirmedthat the colony-forming ability is decreased, in the group treated withcalcium lactate alone as compared with the control group, but the groupstreated with low concentrations (0.23 μg/ml, 0.45 μg/ml, and 1.8 μg/ml)of Trastuzumab alone has little difference in colony-forming abilityfrom the control group. However, it was confirmed that in the groupstreated with 0.23 μg/ml, 0.45 μg/ml, and 1.8 μg/ml Trastuzumab incombination with calcium lactate showed the suppressed colony-formingability to a lower level comparing with the groups treated withTrastuzumab alone which showed no effect of anticancer.

Example 12-15: Treatment with Oxaliplatin in Combination with CalciumLactate

Human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) with the cell number of 1×10³cells were seeded into an RPMI1640 medium in each of 6-well plates.After one day, the medium was replaced with fresh medium and the cellswere treated with 2.5 mM calcium lactate or 1.3 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μMOxaliplatin alone or treated with various concentrations (1.3 μM, 2.5μM, and 5 μM) of Oxaliplatin in combination with 2.5 mM calcium lactate.Then, the colony-forming abilities of the cells were compared. In thiscase, a human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) untreated with anydrug was used as a control group (FIG. 55).

FIG. 55a shows the result of comparing the decrease in the number ofcolonies when a human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treatedwith 2.5 mM calcium lactate and 1.3 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Oxaliplatin,alone or in combination. FIG. 55b shows the result of comparing thesuppression of the formation of individual colony when a humancolorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was treated with 2.5 mM calciumlactate and 1.3 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM Oxaliplatin, alone or incombination. As can be seen from FIGS. 55a and 55b , it was confirmedthat the colony-forming ability of the cancer cells is suppressed, inthe group treated with calcium lactate alone and the groups treated withlow concentrations (1.3 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5 μM) of Oxaliplatin alone ascompared with the control group, and the colony-forming ability isfurther suppressed in the groups treated with Oxaliplatin and calciumlactate in combination as compared with the groups treated withOxaliplatin alone. This result was analyzed to imply that in the case ofthe treating with calcium lactate in combination with a well-knownanticancer drug, the efficiency of anticancer treatment can be improvedeven with a smaller amount of the anticancer drug.

Therefore, the enhanced anticancer activity can be shown when a cancercell is treated with a metal lactate salt in combination with awell-known anticancer drug, even though anticancer activity can be shownwhen a cancer cell is treated with a metal lactate salt alone. Further,it can be seen from the result of Trastuzumab that the sensitivity of acancer cell to a well-known anticancer drug can be further increased.

PCT/KR2015/013191 having an international filing date of Dec. 4, 2015 isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of inhibiting metastatsis of cancer in asubject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount ofcalcium lactate to the subject, wherein the calcium lactate isadministered subcutaneously, intravenously, or intratumorally in adosage ranging from about 0.1 ng to about 1,000 mg/kg, wherein thedosage is administered at least once a day.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the subject has lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer,stomach cancer, brain cancer, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, skincancer, bone cancer, lymphoma, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, kidneycancer, liver cancer, or melanoma.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thecalcium lactate is administered as the only active ingredient.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising treating the subject with aradiation therapy.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the subject isirradiated with an amount of radiation of 2 Gy per day to 10 Gy per day.6. The method of claim 1, further comprising administering to thesubject one or more additional anticancer drugs.
 7. The method of claim6, wherein the one or more additional anticancer drugs are selected fromthe group consisting of Imatinib, 5-Fluorouracil, Irinotecan, Sunitinib,Oxaliplatin, Paclitaxel, Lapatinib, Trastuzumab, Gefitinib, Erlotinib,Methotrexate, Carboplatin, Docetaxel, Everolimus, Sorafenib, 5-indanesulfornamide, cinnamic acid, and combinations thereof.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, further comprising treating the subject with a radiationtherapy.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering delivers anamount of calcium lactate to cancer stem cells of the subject sufficientto induce a morphology change of the cancer stem cells.
 10. The methodof claim 1, wherein the administering delivers an amount of calciumlactate to cancer cells of the subject sufficient to inhibitangiogenesis.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the administeringdelivers an amount of calcium lactate to cancer cells of the subjectsufficient to inhibit expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) or hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) in the cancercells.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering delivers anamount of calcium lactate to cancer cells of the subject sufficient toinhibit glycolysis of glucose in the cancer cells.
 13. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the administering delivers an amount of calcium lactateto cancer cells of the subject sufficient to increase pyruvate, increaselactate dehydrogenase B (LDH-B), or increase alpha-ketoglutarate in thecancer cells.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is a human.15. A method of treating cancer in a subject in need thereof, comprisingadministering calcium lactate to the subject, wherein the calciumlactate is administered subcutaneously, intravenously, or intratumorallyin a dosage ranging from about 0.1 ng to about 1,000 mg/kg, wherein thedosage is administered at least once a day, and wherein theadministering delivers an effective amount of calcium lactate to cancercells of the subject to: a) decrease expression of beta-catenin as acancer growth factor, poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP),hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha), or vascular endothelialgrowth factor (VEGF) in the cancer cells; b) suppress glycolysis ofglucose in the cancer cells; or c) inhibit angiogenesis.
 16. The methodof claim 15, wherein the administering delivers an effective amount ofcalcium lactate to cancer cells of the subject to increase pyruvate,increase lactate dehydrogenase B (LDH-B), or increasealpha-ketoglutarate in the cancer cells.
 17. The method of claim 15,further comprising irradiating the subject or administering to thesubject one or more additional anticancer drugs.
 18. The method of claim15, wherein the one or more additional anticancer drugs are selectedfrom the group consisting of 5-Fluorouracil, Irinotecan, Sunitinib,Oxaliplatin, Paclitaxel, Lapatinib, Trastuzumab, Gefitinib, Erlotinib,Methotrexate, Carboplatin, Docetaxel, Everolimus, Sorafenib, 5-indanesulfornamide, cinnamic acid, and combinations thereof.
 19. The method ofclaim 18, comprising irradiating the subject with an amount of radiationof 2 Gy per day to 10 Gy per day.
 20. A method of treating cancer in asubject in need thereof, consisting essentially of administering aneffective amount of calcium lactate to the subject, wherein the calciumlactate is administered subcutaneously, intravenously, or intratumorallyin a dosage ranging from about 0.1 ng to about 1,000 mg/kg, wherein thedosage is administered at least once a day.
 21. The method of claim 20,wherein the cancer is a metastatic cancer.
 22. The method of claim 21,wherein the cancer is lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer,stomach cancer, brain cancer, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, skincancer, bone cancer, lymphoma, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, kidneycancer, liver cancer, or melanoma.